Abstract: A method of direct casting crystalline metal sheet in continuous strip form from a melt of metal having a melting point below about 900.degree. C. on a continuously driven substantially smooth chill surface cooled to extract heat from the strip being cast avoids gas pockets between the strip and chill surface by applying heat from an external source to the chill surface prior to the chill reentering the melt whereby vaporizable condensates and deposits on the chill surface are eliminated prior to contact with the melt.

Abstract: Disclosed are process and apparatus for use in the direct casting of metal strip from molten metal deposited on a moving chill surface from a tundish having a floor, opposed upwardly extending sidewalls, an end wall, an open outlet opposite the end wall with the open outlet extending substantially the full width of the tundish between the sidewalls, and an inlet for providing a flow of molten metal into the tundish from a source of molten metal. Flow distribution and diffusers within the tundish control and diffuse the flow of molten metal to provide molten metal of substantially uniform temperature across the width of the tundish at the outlet.

Abstract: A melt drag metal strip casting system of the type wherein molten metal is delivered from a supply of the molten metal into contact with a grooved chill surface at a casting station and the chill surface is driven for movement in a path past the casting station at a predetermined linear rate to quench and withdraw a continuous strip of metal from the molten metal supply, the grooves in the chill surface being gradually parallel and spaced from one another to provide land regions between adjacent grooves and the strip having a bottom surface adhering to the land regions of the chill surface and an unsolidified top surface as it is withdrawn from the molten metal supply, including a top roll adjustable mounted above the chill surface and spaced therefrom by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the strip desired with the top roll in contact only with the unsolidified top surface of the strip, with the temperature of the top roll surface in contact with the unsolidified top surface of the strip bein

Abstract: An improved method of and apparatus is disclosed for direct casting of molten metal to form a strip by solidification of the molten metal on a moving chill surface using the vessel having a floor, spaced sidewalls, an inlet and an outlet extending between the sidewalls for supplying the molten metal to the chill surface in which the transverse dimension of the outlet may be adjusted during casting to change the width of the strip and preferably adjustable baffles or flow diverters are provided to control the flow pattern to provide a substantially uniform flow of metal to the outlet.

Abstract: A method of direct casting molten metal into strip by providing a melt of the metal to be cast, providing a continuously driven metal chill surface, flowing a layer of the melt onto the moving chill surface and extracting heat from the layer of melt to solidify and temporarily bond the layer of melt to the chill surface and to shrink the solidified layer and cause it to be released from the chill surface, withdrawing the released solidified layer as a continuous metal strip, establishing a natural oxide layer on said chill surface to provide an interface between said layer of melt and said chill surface, and maintaining said natural oxide in a smooth layer of substantially uniform thickness.

Abstract: Disclosed are process and apparatus for use in the direct casting of metal strip from molten metal deposited on a moving chill surface from a tundish having a floor, opposed upwardly extending sidewalls, an end wall, an open outlet opposite the end wall with the open outlet extending substantially the full width of the tundish between the sidewalls, and an inlet for providing a flow of molten metal into the tundish from a source of molten metal. Flow diverters within the tundish divide the flow of molten metal into a plurality of separate streams and divert one of the streams in the direction of each sidewall and for recombining the diverted streams into a composite stream flowing toward the outlet. Flow diffusers diffuse the molten metal flowing through the tundish to provide molten metal of substantially uniform temperature across the width of the tundish at the outlet.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for producing cathode aluminum foil for electolytic capcitors in which aluminum foil of 98.0% to 99.99% purity is etched in an electrolytic bath containing a chloride or hydrochloric acid in water solution while subjected to an AC and/or DC current, and treated following etching by immersion in an aqueous solution of nitric acid containing about 2.5 to about 3.7 weight percent nitric acid, rinsing, and immersion in an aqueous solution containing about 1.5 to about 5.0 weight percent chromic acid and about 3.0 to about 5.0 weight percent phosphoric acid, again rinsed to substantially completely remove chloride ions from the etched foil surface and increase the capacitance of the foil, and to substantially reduce the capacitance decay rate of the treated foil. The treated foil may be passivated in an aqueous solution of a carboxyl acid, preferably a 1.5 to 5.0 weight percent solution of citric acid in deionized water, before drying.

Abstract: Ceramic tantalum carbide artifacts having high thermal shock and mechanical erosion resistance are provided by incorporating tungsten-rhenium and carbon particles in a tantalum carbide matrix. The mix is sintered by hot pressing to form the ceramic article which has a high fracture strength relative to its elastic modulus and thus has an improved thermal shock and mechanical erosion resistance. The tantalum carbide is preferable less than minus 100 mesh, the carbon particles are preferable less than minus 100 mesh, and the tungsten-rhenium particles are preferable elongate, having a length to thickness ratio of at least 2/1. Tungsten-rhenium wire pieces are suitable as well as graphite particles.