Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of making liquid metal compositions containing a large number of solid particles per unit volume, without external heat removal, which solid particles act as nuclei for grains when the metal is solidified. A method of forming a metal solid includes the step of partially removing a solute of a liquid metallic solution which is at its liquidus temperature to partially solidify a metal solvent component, thereby forming a solid fraction, wherein there is essentially no reduction in temperature of the liquid metallic solution and solid fraction. The method further includes the step of subsequently lowering the temperature of the liquid metallic solution and solid fraction to solidify the remaining liquid metallic solution and thereby form a solid that includes the solid fraction formed during the step of partial solute removal. In an embodiment, the method further includes turbulence from gas evolution which aids in solid particle formation and grain refinement.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of making liquid metal compositions containing a large number of solid particles per unit volume, without external heat removal, which solid particles act as nuclei for grains when the metal is solidified. A method of forming a metal solid includes the step of partially removing a solute of a liquid metallic solution which is at its liquidus temperature to partially solidify a metal solvent component, thereby forming a solid fraction, wherein there is essentially no reduction in temperature of the liquid metallic solution and solid fraction. The method further includes the step of subsequently lowering the temperature of the liquid metallic solution and solid fraction to solidify the remaining liquid metallic solution and thereby form a solid that includes the solid fraction formed during the step of partial solute removal. In an embodiment, the method further includes turbulence from gas evolution which aids in solid particle formation and grain refinement.

Abstract: A method of making refractory carbide particles, which method comprises heating a granule containing refractory metal and carbon to a sufficient temperature to form a molten droplet of refractory carbide, carbon being included in said droplet in excess of the stoichiometric amount which combines with the refractory metal in the highest usual valence thereof, and cooling said molten droplet below the eutectic temperature within 60 seconds or less to cause a thin continuous layer of highly crystalline carbon to precipitate out on the outer surface thereof.