Abstract: A method for casting comprising: providing a seed, the seed characterized by: an arcuate form and a crystalline orientation progressively varying along an arc of the form; providing molten material; and cooling and solidifying the molten material so that a crystalline structure of the seed propagates into the solidifying material.

Abstract: A method for heat treating a superalloy component includes heating a superalloy component to a first temperature, cooling the superalloy from the first temperature to a second temperature at a first cooling rate in a furnace, and cooling the superalloy component from the second temperature to a final temperature at a second cooling rate. The second cooling rate is higher than the first cooling rate.

Abstract: A method for welding a first powder metallurgical (PM) part to a second powder metallurgical (PM) part includes: working a first face of the first PM part; working a first face of the second PM part; and friction welding the first face of the first part to the first face of the second part.

Abstract: A joining method includes performing a first heat treatment step on a first superalloy workpiece and a second superalloy workpiece wherein at least one of the first and second superalloy workpieces include a gamma matrix phase and a gamma-prime precipitate phase. The first and second superalloy workpieces are joined using a solid state joining process, subjected to a post-weld stress relief operation and a final aging heat treatment.

Abstract: A method of investment casting includes casting a liquid nickel- or cobalt-based superalloy in an investment casting mold. The superalloy includes an yttrium alloying element that is subject to reactive loss during the casting. Loss of the yttrium is limited by using a zircon-containing facecoat on a refractory investment wall in the investment casting mold. The facecoat contacts the liquid nickel- or cobalt-based superalloy during the casting. Prior to the casting, a zircon-containing slurry is used to form the facecoat. After solidification of the nickel- or cobalt-based superalloy, the refractory investment wall is removed from the solidified superalloy.

Abstract: A shot tube includes an inner bore for delivering molten material into a die-cast mold. The shot tube has an outer peripheral surface with at least one surface for receiving a locking member to lock the shot tube into an aperture in a fixed mold portion and an alignment structure for properly aligning the shot tube in the fixed mold portion. An opening receives molten material into the inner bore.

Abstract: A method of forming a hybrid component having an axis of rotation includes forming a first substrate having a first interface surface and a first average grain size, forming a second substrate having a second interface surface and a second average grain size different from the first average grain size, and inertia welding the first and second substrates at a junction of the first and second interface surfaces to form a solid-state joint between the first and second substrates.

Abstract: A method of forming a hybrid component having an axis of rotation includes forming a first substrate having a first average grain size, forming a second substrate having a second average grain size different from the first average grain size, positioning an interlayer on one of the first and second substrates, positioning a portion of the first substrate adjacent a portion of the second substrate such that the interlayer extends between the portion of the first substrate and the portion of the second substrate, heating the first and second substrates and the interlayer at a temperature below the melting points of the first and second substrates to melt the interlayer, and isothermally solidifying the interlayer to form a solid-state joint between the portions of the first and second substrates.

Abstract: A method of investment casting includes casting a liquid nickel- or cobalt-based superalloy in an investment casting mold. The superalloy includes an yttrium alloying element that is subject to reactive loss during the casting. Loss of the yttrium is limited by using a zircon-containing facecoat on a refractory investment wall in the investment casting mold. The facecoat contacts the liquid nickel- or cobalt-based superalloy during the casting. Prior to the casting, a zircon-containing slurry is used to form the facecoat. After solidification of the nickel- or cobalt-based superalloy, the refractory investment wall is removed from the solidified superalloy.

Abstract: A shot tube includes an inner bore for delivering molten material into a die-cast mold. The shot tube has an outer peripheral surface with at least one surface for receiving a locking member to lock the shot tube into an aperture in a fixed mold portion and an alignment structure for properly aligning the shot tube in the fixed mold portion. An opening receives molten material into the inner bore. A die-cast machine is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a component in a die casting cell that includes a die casting system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, isolating a first chamber from a second chamber of the die casting system, melting a charge of material in the first chamber, sealing the second chamber relative to the first chamber, and simultaneously injecting the charge of material within the second chamber to cast the component and melting a second charge of material within the first chamber.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an investment casting mold includes using a zircon-containing slurry to form a facecoat of a refractory investment wall of a mold cavity in an investment casting mold. The zircon-containing slurry includes, by weight, at least 70% of zircon powder. Also disclosed is a slurry for use in an investment casting mold. The slurry includes, by weight, at least 70% of zircon powder, 10%-30% of colloidal silica material, and 1%-10% of a carrier solvent. The method and slurry can be used to fabricate an investment casting mold that has a refractory investment wall with a facecoat having, by weight, at least 70% zircon.

Abstract: A plasma spray system including a turntable subsystem operable to position a multiple of work pieces on a respective multiple of workpiece mounts; a plasma spray subsystem operable to plasma spray the multiple of work pieces on said turntable subsystem; and an overspray wash subsystem operable to wash the multiple of work pieces on said turntable subsystem subsequent to plasma spray of the multiple of work pieces.

Abstract: A hollow metal article can be fabricated by casting a molten metal alloy around a core, solidifying the molten metal alloy to form a metal article, and chemically removing the core from the metal article to form a hollow cavity in the metal article. The core includes a ceramic core body and an x-ray radiopaque coating disposed on the ceramic core body. A method for testing the hollow metal article includes submitting the hollow metal article to x-ray imaging and determining based upon the x-ray imaging whether any of the x-ray radiopaque coating of the core remains in the hollow metal article.

Abstract: Methods are provided for manufacturing a component. In one method, first material is cast into a first body. At least a portion of the first body is machined. Second metal material is cast onto at least the machined portion of the first body to form a monolithic second body. A first portion of the second body is formed by the first metal material. A second portion of the second body is formed by the second metal material. The second metal material is different from the first metal material.

Abstract: A nickel braze alloy may include less than about 2.0 wt. % aluminum, about 18.0-23.0 wt. % cobalt, about 12.0-15.0 wt. % chromium, about 3.8-4.5 wt. % molybdenum, about 0.8-1.5 wt. % niobium, about 1.8-3.0 wt. % tantalum, less than about 2.0 wt. % titanium, about 2.0-3.5 wt. % tungsten, about 0.8-1.2 wt. % boron, about 0.02-0.10 wt. % carbon, about 0.03-0.06 wt. % zirconium, and a balance of nickel and minor amounts of impurities.

Abstract: A plasma spray system including a turntable subsystem operable to position a multiple of work pieces on a respective multiple of workpiece mounts; a plasma spray subsystem operable to plasma spray the multiple of work pieces on said turntable subsystem; and an overspray wash subsystem operable to wash the multiple of work pieces on said turntable subsystem subsequent to plasma spray of the multiple of work pieces.

Abstract: An article such as a heat shield panel includes a substrate and a multi-layered coating supported on the substrate. The multi-layered coating can include alternating layers of different ceramic material compositions having individual thicknesses of less than 25 micrometers.

Abstract: An article (50; 100) has a metallic substrate (22), a bondcoat (30) atop the substrate, and a thermal barrier coating (28; 27, 28) atop the bondcoat. The thermal barrier coating or a layer thereof comprises didymium oxide and zirconia.

Abstract: An article (50; 100) has a metallic substrate (22), a bondcoat (30) atop the substrate, and a thermal barrier coating (28; 27, 28) atop the bondcoat. The thermal barrier coating or a layer thereof comprises didymium oxide ore and zirconia.