Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for and a method of thixocasting a cast iron, that can effectively prevent the scale from mixing in the die (cavity) thereby to obtain sound iron castings having good mechanical properties. The apparatus includes at least a pair of dies that can freely opened and closed to define a cavity to be filled under a pressure, and an injector that injects the semi-molten iron into the cavity through a hole in a gate at the entry of the cavity so as to throttle the entry. The gate is a separate member disposed at the entry of the cavity every time an injection casting operation is carried out and is taken out together with the casting after the injection casting operation.

Abstract: A billet for a thixocasting process and a thixocasting process using the billet allows casting using a thixocasting process to be realized at low production cost without permeation of an oxide film to the inside of the billet in injection molding. In a billet used for a thixocasting process continuously cast by intermittently drawing out, the interval of the oscillation marks is 10 mm or less and the maximum tilt angle of the oscillation marks relative to a cross section which is at a right angle to the drawing out direction is 45° or less.

Abstract: A billet for a thixocasting process and a thixocasting process using the billet allows casting using a thixocasting process to be realized at low production cost without permeation of an oxide film to the inside of the billet in injection molding. In a billet used for a thixocasting process continuously cast by intermittently drawing out, the interval of the oscillation marks is 10 mm or less and the maximum tilt angle of the oscillation marks relative to a cross section which is at a right angle to the drawing out direction is 45° or less.