Abstract: In a method for forming shaped articles from molten metallic material the melt is caused to flow from a holding vessel therefor through a refractory duct having at least one static thermally-conducting element extending transversely within the duct so dimensioned and located to both cool and stir by shear the melt flowing therethrough. The melt is cooled to a temperature within its freezing range, if it is an alloy, or at its freezing point, if it is a metal, and is stirred to precipitate a solid phase as fragmented dendrites. The cooled and stirred metal outflow from the duct is cast into shaped articles. The invention has one specific application in producing the precipitating solid phase as non-degenerate micro-crystalline particles.