Abstract: A spot welding method including: a main energization step of energizing a pair of opposing electrodes in pressure contact with both outer surfaces of a set of sheets where multiple sheet materials are stacked, thereby to cause melting between facing surfaces of the sheet materials; and a pressing variation step of, prior to the main energization step, causing a pulsation of pressing force applied to the set of sheets from the electrodes. A resin material such as an adhesive or a sealant may be interposed between the facing surfaces of at least a pair of the sheet materials. The period of the pulsation is 0.01 to 0.7 seconds. The amplitude of the pulsation is 10% to 90% with respect to a reference value of the pressing force. The set of sheets may include a first and a second steel sheet, and an aluminum alloy sheet that are stacked in order.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a member for fastening by joining a nut with a tubular joint portion extending from a main body formed with an internal thread to a panel with a mounting hole for the nut on an aluminum base material. The joint portion has a rotation-preventing portion with a concave and convex shaped outer peripheral surface and a guide portion extending from the rotation-preventing portion to one side. After the guide portion is inserted into the mounting hole, the nut is energized by electrodes in contact with both nut end surface sides. The nut then generates heat, and the periphery of the mounting hole is heated and softened. When the nut is pressurized with the electrodes, the rotation-preventing portion bites into the mounting hole, and the one end portion of the guide portion is swaged to become a retaining portion on one surface side of the panel.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy member capable of suppressing deterioration in ductility thereof. In the method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy member, an aluminum alloy casting material that contains 2.0 to 5.5 mass % of Cu, and 4.0 to 7.0 mass % of Si in which a content of Mg is 0.5 mass % or less, a content of Zn is 1.0 mass % or less, a content of Fe is 1.0 mass % or less, a content of Mn is 0.5 mass % or less and the balance is made of Al and inevitable impurities is used. The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy member includes a heating and holding step of heating and holding the aluminum alloy casting material within a solid-liquid coexisting temperature region; and a quenching step of rapidly cooling the aluminum alloy casting material after performing the heating and holding step.

Abstract: A metal removal agent used when removing Mg from an aluminum alloy melt whose raw material is scrap or the like and used for formation of a molten salt layer that takes in Mg from an aluminum alloy melt. The metal removal agent contains: a specific metal element one or more of Cu, Zn, or Mn; a specific halogen element one or more of Cl or Br; and Mg. The metal removal agent may also contain: a base halide that serves as a base material of the molten salt layer; and a specific metal halide that is a compound of a specific metal element and a specific halogen element. When the molten salt layer formed using the agent and the aluminum alloy melt containing Mg are brought into contact with each other, Mg is taken into the molten salt layer side from the aluminum alloy melt side and efficiently removed.

Abstract: A method with which Mg can be removed from aluminum alloy melt whose raw material is scrap or the like. Metal removal method includes processing step of forming molten salt layer in contact with aluminum alloy melt containing Mg which covers at least part of the surface of the aluminum alloy melt. This method allows Mg to be taken in from aluminum alloy melt to molten salt layer and removed. Molten salt layer contains specific halogen element that is one or more of Cl or Br and specific metal element that is one or more of Cu, Zn, or Mn. The specific metal element is supplied as an oxide of the specific metal element to the molten salt layer. At that time, the molten salt layer contains Mg. The step of removing Mg is performed by disposing a conductor that bridges the aluminum alloy melt and the molten salt layer.

Abstract: A Mg removal agent is composed of a chloride and copper oxide. The chloride contains at least Mg and one or more base metal elements selected from K, Na, and Ca. The chloride contains, for example, 0.2 to 60 mass % of MgCl2 and/or 40 to 99.8 mass % of KCl with respect to the chloride as a whole. The compounding ratio that is a mass ratio of the chloride to the copper oxide is, for example, 0.15 or more. The chloride may be a re-solidified salt or a mixed salt. At least a part of the chloride may be a mineral containing the base metal elements and Mg or a mineral-derived chloride. A preferred example of the Mg removal agent is granular flux introduced into the aluminum alloy molten metal.

Abstract: A metal purifying method having: a local heating step of heating an aluminum-based molten metal in a first region on a molten metal surface of the aluminum-based molten metal; and a local low pressure step of lowering the pressure in a second region on the molten metal surface to a pressure lower than the pressure in the first region. The second region is different from the first region. This allows a specific element to be vaporized from the second region to purify the aluminum-based molten metal. The specific element is one or more of Zn, Mg, or Pb having a saturated vapor pressure higher than that of Al. This is effective not only in a purifying method for removing a specific element from an aluminum-based molten metal but also in a method of recovering a specific element, which can be a resource, from an aluminum-based molten metal.

Abstract: An object provides a power generation apparatus performing the purification of an Al alloy melt using scrap as raw material. A power generation apparatus includes: a container body with aluminum alloy melt and molten salt in a liquid junction with the aluminum alloy melt; an anode which is in contact with the aluminum alloy melt; and a cathode which is in contact with the molten salt. DC power is obtained from between the anode and the cathode by an anode reaction on the aluminum alloy melt side and a cathode reaction on the molten salt side. When the aluminum alloy melt and the molten salt are separated by a separator allowing ionic conduction between the aluminum alloy melt and molten salt, the power generation efficiency is enhanced. The amount of a reactant in the Al alloy melt is monitored by measuring the electrical quantity associated with the power generation.

Abstract: A recycling method for aluminum alloy is capable of offering a recycled Al alloy (melt), in which the Fe concentration is efficiently reduced, while using Al alloy scrap and the like as raw materials. The method includes: a preparation step of preparing a first melt by melting an Fe.Mn-containing material that contains Fe and Mn and an Al alloy raw material; a crystallization step of holding the first melt at a separation temperature at which an Fe compound crystallizes; and an extraction step of extracting a second melt obtained by removing at least part of the Fe compound crystallized from the first melt. The Fe.Mn-containing material preferably has a mass ratio of Mn to Fe (Mn/Fe) of, for example, 2 or more.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy member capable of suppressing deterioration in ductility thereof. In the method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy member, an aluminum alloy casting material that contains 2.0 to 5.5 mass % of Cu, and 4.0 to 7.0 mass % of Si in which a content of Mg is 0.5 mass % or less, a content of Zn is 1.0 mass % or less, a content of Fe is 1.0 mass % or less, a content of Mn is 0.5 mass % or less and the balance is made of Al and inevitable impurities is used. The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy member includes a heating and holding step of heating and holding the aluminum alloy casting material within a solid-liquid coexisting temperature region; and a quenching step of rapidly cooling the aluminum alloy casting material after performing the heating and holding step.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy member capable of suppressing deterioration in ductility thereof. In the method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy member, an aluminum alloy casting material that contains 2.0 to 5.5 mass % of Cu, and 4.0 to 7.0 mass % of Si in which a content of Mg is 0.5 mass % or less, a content of Zn is 1.0 mass % or less, a content of Fe is 1.0 mass % or less, a content of Mn is 0.5 mass % or less and the balance is made of Al and inevitable impurities is used. The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy member includes a heating and holding step of heating and holding the aluminum alloy casting material within a solid-liquid coexisting temperature region; and a quenching step of rapidly cooling the aluminum ally casting material after performing the heating and holding step.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy member capable of suppressing deterioration in ductility thereof. In the method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy member, an aluminum alloy casting material that contains 2.0 to 5.5 mass % of Cu, and 4.0 to 7.0 mass % of Si in which a content of Mg is 0.5 mass % or less, a content of Zn is 1.0 mass % or less, a content of Fe is 1.0 mass % or less, a content of Mn is 0.5 mass % or less and the balance is made of Al and inevitable impurities is used. The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy member includes a heating and holding step of heating and holding the aluminum alloy casting material within a solid-liquid coexisting temperature region; and a quenching step of rapidly cooling the aluminum ally casting material after performing the heating and holding step.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pipe with a rib, in which a rib portion formed inside a pipe portion includes bent portions in accordance with bending of the pipe portion or a twisted portion in accordance with twisting of the pipe portion, includes drawing out molten metal held in a furnace by using a starter, from a surface of the molten metal, and drawing up the molten metal through a shape defining member defining a sectional shape of the pipe with the rib to be cast, and cooling and solidifying the molten metal passed through the shape defining member and drawn up. The bent portions are formed by moving at least one of the starter and the shape defining member in a horizontal direction. The twisted portion is formed by rotating at least one of the starter and the shape defining member about an axis extending along a vertical direction.

Abstract: There are provided a manufacturing method of a casting capable of easily manufacturing a casting having a complex form and of increasing the degree of freedom of form of the casting to be manufactured, a manufacturing device thereof and a casting. At the time of forming a casting by drawing out molten metal from a bath surface of a molten metal bath and solidifying the molten metal which has been drawn out, an outer contour unit configured from a plurality of outer contour defining members for defining the outer contour of a casting is arranged in a region between the bath surface of the molten meth bath and a solid region where the molten metal is solidified and the molten metal which has been drawn out from the bath surface is drawn out through a region determined by the outer contour unit, and the form of the casting is changed by moving at least one of the plurality of outer contour defining members according to the drawing out of the molten metal.

Abstract: A pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a molten-metal holding furnace that holds molten metal, a shape defining member configured to define a cross-sectional shape of a hollowed cast-metal article to be casted as held molten metal drawn from the molten-metal surface passes through the shape defining member, a cooling unit that cools the held molten metal by blowing a cooling gas on an inner peripheral surface of the hollowed cast-metal article near an solidification interface, the drawn molten metal continuously extending to the cast-metal article through the solidification interface, and a blower unit that blows air to a negative pressure area formed in a space between a flow path through which the cooling gas blown from the cooling unit flows and a top surface of the shape defining member.

Abstract: A free casting method according to the present invention includes, a lead-out step for leading out molten metal from a lead-out area (P) provided in a source of supply, e.g. a surface level of the molten metal, to retain the molten metal temporarily by surface films (F) generated on an outer surface, and a forming step for obtaining a formed body by solidifying retained molten metal (MS) led out along a set passage (L1) depending on a desired casting shape, wherein the retained molten metal is solidified after being formed into the desired casting shape by applying an external force thereto at positions between an unrestrained root portion of the retained molten metal in vicinity of the surface level of the molten metal and a solidification interface defined as a boundary between the retained molten metal and the formed body in the forming step.

Abstract: A surface-treated mold that includes a mold, a metal layer that is provided on a surface of the mold and contains at least one metal selected from nickel, chromium, tungsten and brass, and a carbon film that is provided on a surface of the metal layer, wherein the metal layer contains carbon, and the carbon concentration in the metal layer is higher between the boundary with the carbon film and the center of the metal layer than that between the boundary with the mold and the center of the metal layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pipe with a rib, in which a rib portion formed inside a pipe portion includes bent portions in accordance with bending of the pipe portion or a twisted portion in accordance with twisting of the pipe portion, includes drawing out molten metal held in a furnace by using a starter, from a surface of the molten metal, and drawing up the molten metal through a shape defining member defining a sectional shape of the pipe with the rib to be cast, and cooling and solidifying the molten metal passed through the shape defining member and drawn up. The bent portions are formed by moving at least one of the starter and the shape defining member in a horizontal direction. The twisted portion is formed by rotating at least one of the starter and the shape defining member about an axis extending along a vertical direction.

Abstract: A free casting method according to the present invention includes, a lead-out step for leading out molten metal from a lead-out area provided in a source of supply, e.g. a surface level of the molten metal, to retain the molten metal temporarily by surface films generated on an outer surface, and a forming step for obtaining a formed body by solidifying retained molten metal led out along a set passage depending on a desired casting shape, wherein the retained molten metal is solidified after being formed into the desired casting shape by applying an external force thereto at positions between an unrestrained root portion of the retained molten metal in vicinity of the surface level of the molten metal and a solidification interface defined as a boundary between the retained molten metal and the formed body in the forming step.

Abstract: A free casting method according to the present invention includes, a lead-out step for leading out molten metal from a lead-out area (P) provided in a source of supply, e.g. a surface level of the molten metal, to retain the molten metal temporarily by surface films (F) generated on an outer surface, and a forming step for obtaining a formed body by solidifying retained molten metal (MS) led out along a set passage (L1) depending on a desired casting shape, wherein the retained molten metal is solidified after being formed into the desired casting shape by applying an external force thereto at positions between an unrestrained root portion of the retained molten metal in vicinity of the surface level of the molten metal and a solidification interface defined as a boundary between the retained molten metal and the formed body in the forming step.