Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for extracting desired chemical species including, without limitation, lithium, specific lithium species, and/or other chemical compounds from input flows in a modular unit. The input flows may be raw materials in which lithium metal and/or lithium species are dissolved and/or extracted. The apparatuses and methods may include daisy chain flow through separate tanks, a column array, and/or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Methods of the present disclosure may be referred to as direct material extraction. Brine may be moved into a media bed such that extractant materials in the media bed absorb ions of a target material without absorbing other materials included in the brine. Desired ion(s) may be transported into the extractant and be held there temporally based on ionic bonds that form between the desired ions and the extractant material. Apparatuses of the present disclosure may contain the extractant material, receive brine, and may receive a stripping solution such that desired materials are separated from other materials included in the brine. After the extractant material has absorbed the desired materials, a flow of stripping solution may be used to flush other materials out of an apparatus and then to flush the desired materials out of the extractant material.

Abstract: A liquid level sensor 1 comprises a sleeve 2 disposed so as to extend in the vertical direction, a float 3 configured so as to move along said sleeve according to fluctuation of liquid level, a resistor string 4, a plurality of grounding means 5 disposed inside the sleeve 2 and a liquid level signal output means 6 to take out an electric signal detected between a positive electrode side end part 4a and a junction part grounded by the grounding means 5 as a liquid level signal that is a signal corresponding to the liquid level, and further comprises a warning signal output means 7 to output a warning signal when the float 3 is located within a predetermined distance from a warning position that is a predetermined position within a movable range of the float 3. Thereby, a compact and reliable liquid level sensor is realized.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a plated black heart malleable cast iron member including a black heart malleable cast iron member and a plating layer formed on a surface of the black heart malleable cast iron member, the method including the steps of: performing graphitization in a non-oxidizing and decarburizing atmosphere; performing a particle projection treatment on a surface of the black heart malleable cast iron member obtained after the graphitization such that silicon oxide remains on the surface; immersing the black heart malleable cast iron member obtained after the particle projection treatment in a flux for 3.0 minutes or more; and performing hot-dip plating on the black heart malleable cast iron member obtained after the immersion in the flux.

Abstract: A mold construction system is presented for use in additive manufacturing of a metal object. The system comprises: at least one mold provision device controllably operable to form one or more mold regions defining one or more respective object regions in a production layer, and configured to receive molten metal deposited to each object region; and a control system operating said at least one mold provision device in accordance with a predetermined building plan. The mold provision device is controllably operable, in accordance with said predetermined building plan, to create each mold region, in each production layer, with one or more metal-facing zones and one or more metal-nonadjacent zones around the metal-facing zone. Each metal-facing zone is configured to define a cavity forming the object region to receive the molten metal therein, and is configured with higher compressibility relatively to at least a sub-zone of the metal-nonadjacent zone.

Abstract: An electrical connection member (1, 301, 401, 501, 601) includes a clad material (10, 110, 610) including at least both a first Cu layer (12) made of a Cu material and a low thermal expansion layer (11) made of an Fe material or Ni material having an average thermal expansion coefficient from room temperature to 300° C. smaller than that of the first Cu layer, the first Cu layer and the low thermal expansion layer being bonded to each other.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for extracting desired chemical species including, without limitation, lithium, specific lithium species, and/or other chemical compounds from input flows in a modular unit. The input flows may be raw materials in which lithium metal and/or lithium species are dissolved and/or extracted. The apparatuses and methods may include daisy chain flow through separate tanks, a column array, and/or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Aspects of this invention relate to preparing lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide using an ion exchange resin. An example method can include adding an aqueous composition comprising lithium ions into a column. The column may include ion exchange resins saturated with sodium. The example method can include adding water into the column to remove residual sodium salts and adding a sodium hydroxide solution to the column to obtain lithium hydroxide.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a coating of a press hardened steel strip, the coating providing cathodic protection. The coating of the post-press hardened steel strip comprises zinc, aluminum, and at least one element selected from manganese (Mn) and/or antimony (Sb).

Abstract: A mold construction system is presented for use in additive manufacturing of a metal object. The system comprises: at least one mold provision device controllably operable to form one or more mold regions defining one or more respective object regions in a production layer, and configured to receive molten metal deposited to each object region; and a control system operating said at least one mold provision device in accordance with a predetermined building plan. The mold provision device is controllably operable, in accordance with said predetermined building plan, to create each mold region, in each production layer, with one or more metal-facing zones and one or more metal-nonadjacent zones around the metal-facing zone. Each metal-facing zone is configured to define a cavity forming the object region to receive the molten metal therein, and is configured with higher compressibility relatively to at least a sub-zone of the metal-nonadjacent zone.

Abstract: A method for casting an object includes additively producing, by a casting system, multiple production layers, one currently-produced production layer after the other. For each currently-produced production layer, the method includes forming, by a mold system of the casting system, one or more mold-layers, providing, by a replaceable material provision system of the casting system, one or more replaceable material layers; and forming, by a molten metal processing of the casting system, one or more current object regions of the currently-produced production layer by providing molten metal that replaces the one or more replaceable material layers.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for additive casting of parts is disclosed. The method may include: depositing, on a build table, a first portion of a mold, such that, the depositing may be performed layer by layer; pouring liquid substance into the first portion of the mold to form a first casted layer; solidifying at least a portion of the first casted layer; depositing a second portion of the mold, on top of the first portion of the mold; pouring the liquid substance into the second portion of the mold to form a second casted layer, on top of at least a portion of the first casted layer; and solidifying at least a portion of the second casted layer. The method may further include joining the first and second casted layers prior to the pouring of a third casted layer.

Abstract: A mold construction system is presented for use in additive manufacturing of a metal object. The system comprises: at least one mold provision device controllably operable to form one or more mold regions defining one or more respective object regions in a production layer, and configured to receive molten metal deposited to each object region; and a control system operating said at least one mold provision device in accordance with a predetermined building plan. The mold provision device is controllably operable, in accordance with said predetermined building plan, to create each mold region, in each production layer, with one or more metal-facing zones and one or more metal-nonadjacent zones around the metal-facing zone. Each metal-facing zone is configured to define a cavity forming the object region to receive the molten metal therein, and is configured with higher compressibility relatively to at least a sub-zone of the metal-nonadjacent zone.

Abstract: A mold construction system is presented for use in additive manufacturing of a metal object. The system comprises: at least one mold provision device controllably operable to form one or more mold regions defining one or more respective object regions in a production layer, and configured to receive molten metal deposited to each object region; and a control system operating each mold provision device in accordance with a predetermined building plan. The mold provision device, in accordance with said predetermined building plan, creates each mold region of each production layer with at least one metal-facing zone configured to define at least one cavity forming the object region to receive the molten metal therein. The metal-facing zone comprises a predetermined arrangement of spaced-apart sites of relatively weak mechanical properties relative to spaces between said sites within said mold material.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a desired object based on casting system manufacturing constraints, the method may include (i) obtaining the 3D model of the desired object; wherein the 3D model comprises vertexes and angular information regarding angular relationships between the vertexes; (ii) virtually partitioning the 3D model to slices; (iii) generating a 3D model of a casting system-compliant object; wherein the generating comprises determining for each slice, based on casting system manufacturing constraints and on the 3D model of the desired object, (a) one or more mold regions associated with the slice, and (b) one or more object regions defined by the one or more mold regions, to be formed by molten metal processing; and (iv) responding to the generating of the 3D model of the casting system-compliant object

Abstract: A mold construction system is presented for use in additive manufacturing of a metal object. The system comprises: at least one mold provision device controllably operable to form one or more mold regions defining one or more respective metal object regions in a production layer; and a control system operating said at least one mold provision device in accordance with a predetermined building plan. The mold provision device operates, in accordance with said predetermined building plan, to create each mold regions by sequentially forming the following: a metal-facing zone defining a cavity forming the metal object region, and a metal-nonadjacent zone around the metal-facing zone. The metal-facing zone of the mold region is made of a ceramic-based material and is distinct from the metal-nonadjacent zone in at least one of material composition and mold deposition process parameters.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for extracting desired chemical species including, without limitation, lithium, specific lithium species, and/or other chemical compounds from input flows in a modular unit. The input flows may be raw materials in which lithium metal and/or lithium species are dissolved and/or extracted. The apparatuses and methods may include daisy chain flow through separate tanks, a column array, and/or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for extracting desired chemical species including, without limitation, lithium, specific lithium species, and/or other chemical compounds from input flows in a modular unit. The input flows may be raw materials in which lithium metal and/or lithium species are dissolved and/or extracted. The apparatuses and methods may include daisy chain flow through separate tanks, a column array, and/or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tip plate for a bushing for receiving a high temperature melt and a corresponding bushing, wherein the tip plate provides an arrangement of tips of high packing density.