Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing metallic and intermetallic alloy ingots by continuous or quasi-continuous billet withdrawal from a cold wall crucible, which is characterized in that the alloy material is continuously or quasi-continuously supplied in a molten and pre-homogenized state to a cold wall induction crucible.

Abstract: To produce precision castings from a melt, use is made of a metallic casting wheel (1) which has an annular distribution channel (4) and a plurality of interchangeable casting moulds (6), each having at least one filling opening (6a). The melt quantity per casting operation is chosen here such that the casting moulds (6) and the distribution channel (4) are filled with the melt upon the rotation of the casting wheel (1) about its axis (A—A), in such a way that after the solidification of the melt the precision castings are held together by a ring of the casting material which is formed in the distribution channel (4), the so-called circulating material for new casting processes, and are removed from the casting wheel (1) together with the casting moulds (6), whereupon the precision castings are separated from the ring.

Abstract: In the case of a process for the production of homogeneous mixtures of alloys, in particular of intermetallic phases of at least two alloy components, by the melting of raw materials in an inductively heated cold wall furnace the following processing steps are applied:

Abstract: To produce precision castings from a melt, use is made of a metallic casting wheel (1) which has an annular distribution channel (4) and a plurality of interchangeable casting moulds (6), each having at least one filling opening (6a). The melt quantity per casting operation is chosen here such that the casting moulds (6) and the distribution channel (4) are filled with the melt upon the rotation of the casting wheel (1) about its axis (A-A), in such a way that after the solidification of the melt the precision castings are held together by a ring of the casting material which is formed in the distribution channel (4), the so-called circulating material for new casting processes, and are removed from the casting wheel (1) together with the casting moulds (6), whereupon the precision castings are separated from the ring.

Abstract: Molds (1) with annular mold parts (2, 3) divided by at least one plane of division (E—E) and forming a plurality of cavities (8) disposed at least substantially radially to a centrifugation axis (A—A), serve for the production of precision castings by centrifugal casting, especially of parts made of materials containing titanium for internal combustion engines, the molds (1) and a casting system being contained in a closed chamber. To automate production, at least one mold part (2, 3) is made to rotate in its own rotational guide, and two mold parts (2, 3) together with the corresponding rotational guides are brought to a closed position for the casting and solidification and to an open position for the removal of the precision castings. When cast, the precision castings are preferably joined together at their radially inward pointing ends by a circumferential ring of the solidified metal and thus a circle of castings can be removed from the opened mold by a manipulating system.

Abstract: In the production of precision castings by centrifugal casting with controlled solidification, a melt is cast under vacuum or shield gas into a pre-heated mold (15) with a central gate (19) and several mold cavities proceeding from the gate toward the outer circumference (Da) of the mold (15). To prevent the formation of shrinkholes and porous areas in the castings, to save energy, and to increase the production rate, the mold (15) is operated at temperatures which decrease from the inside toward the outside. The mold consists of a material or material combination with a coefficient of thermal conductivity lower than that of copper. Before the melt is poured, the mold (15) is heated, starting from the gate (19), by a heating device (20), which projects into the gate, so that the gate (19) reaches a temperature which is a function of the material being cast. Heating is carried out at a rate sufficient to produce a temperature Gradient of at least 100° C., preferably of 200-600° C.

Abstract: In the production of precision castings by centrifugal casting with controlled solidification, a melt is cast under vacuum or shield gas into a preheated mold (15) with a central gate (19) and several mold cavities proceeding from the gate toward the outer circumference (Da) of the mold (15). To prevent the formation of shrinkholes and porous areas in the castings, to save energy, and to increase the production rate, the mold (15) is operated at temperatures which decrease from the inside toward the outside. The mold consists of a material or material combination with a coefficient of thermal conductivity lower than that of copper. Before the melt is poured, the mold (15) is heated, starting from the gate (19), by a heating device (20), which projects into the gate, so that the gate (19) reaches a temperature which is a function of the material being cast. Heating is carried out at a rate sufficient to produce a temperature gradient of at least 100° C., preferably of 200-600° C.

Abstract: In the production of precision castings by centrifugal casting with controlled solidification, a melt is cast under vacuum or shield gas into a pre-heated mold (15) with a central gate (19) and several mold cavities proceeding from the gate toward the outer circumference (Da) of the mold (15). To prevent the formation of shrinkholes and porous areas in the castings, to save energy, and to increase the production rate, the mold (15) is operated at temperatures which decrease from the inside toward the outside. The mold consists of a material or material combination with a coefficient of thermal conductivity lower than that of copper. Before the melt is poured, the mold (15) is heated, starting from the gate (19), by a heating device (20), which projects into the gate, so that the gate (19) reaches a temperature which is a function of the material being cast. Heating is carried out at a rate sufficient to produce a temperature gradient of at least 100° C., preferably of 200-600° C.

Abstract: For the oriented solidification of molten silicon to form an ingot in a bottomless crystallization chamber (9, 41) with a cooling body (11), which can be lowered relative to the chamber, the flat bottom surface of a seed body (25) of solid silicon is laid on the surface of the cooling body. The top surface of the seed body (25) is melted, and the ingot is grown on top of it as the cooling body is lowered by relative motion with respect to the crystallization chamber (9, 41) at a rate which is dependent on the supply of additional silicon and the solidification rate. For the purpose of producing large ingots with a coarsely crystalline to monocrystalline structure, a seed body (25) with a crystalline structure selected from the group ranging from coarsely crystalline to monocrystalline is used. Either lump silicon is placed on top of the seed body (25) and melted by induction, or molten silicon is produced in a forehearth (37) and poured onto the seed body (25). The seed body (25) has a thickness of 0.

Abstract: In the production of castings from a melt of a reactive metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloys, and titanium-based alloys, a reusable casting mold (20) is used; the mold, at least in the area of the surface which comes in contact with the melt, consists of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, niobium, zirconium, and/or their alloys. The casting mold (20) preferably consists, at least in the area of the surface which comes in contact with the melt, of a tantalum based alloy containing at least 50 wt. % of tantalum. The casting molds can be made of a homogeneous metal, but it is also possible to insert shells of the metals in question into a base body to form the boundaries of the mold cavities, whereas the base body itself consists of some other metal or alloy or of a nonmetal such as graphite or silicon nitride.

Abstract: In a process for the production of alloys from at least two alloy components (A, B, C, D, . . . ) with different melting points by melting in an inductively heated cold-walled crucible (1) with a cooled crucible base (3), in order to obtain an exact and homogeneous alloy composition at least a part of the alloy components (A, B, C, D, . . . ) are introduced into the cold-walled crucible (1) consecutively and in stacked fashion where eithera) the alloy component (a) in each case with the lower melting point is introduced first orb) the alloy component in each case with the lower density is introduced firstand following the introduction at least one of further alloy component the heating energy is switched on. The process serves preferably for the production of the intermetallic phase TiAl, where firstly the aluminium and then the titanium are stacked in the cold-walled crucible (1).

Abstract: In the production of castings from a melt of a reactive metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloys, and titanium-based alloys, a reusable casting mold (20) is used; the mold, at least in the area of the surface which comes in contact with the melt, consists of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, niobium, zirconium, and/or their alloys. The casting mold (20) preferably consists, at least in the area of the surface which comes in contact with the melt, of a tantalum based alloy containing at least 50 wt. % of tantalum. The casting molds can be made of a homogeneous metal, but it is also possible to insert shells of the metals in question into a base body to form the boundaries of the mold cavities, whereas the base body itself consists of some other metal or alloy or of a nonmetal such as graphite or silicon nitride.