Abstract: A method of making a directionally solidified casting by casting a melt in a mold cavity of an investment mold having a core therein to form an internal casting surface feature involves evacuting the mold cavity while the investment mold is disposed on a chill member with the mold cavity communicating to the chill member, and introducing the melt into the evacuted mold cavity about the core so that the melt contacts the chill member for unidirectional heat removal and directional solidification. Then, gaseous pressure is applied to the melt cast in the mold cavity rapidly enough after introduction in the mold cavity to reduce localized void regions present in the cast melt as a result of surface tension effects between the melt and the core.

Abstract: The method of making a composite article of different metal portions by spraying molten metal on the surface of a solid metal member that has been cleaned and preheated in a controlled atmosphere at low pressure. The molten metal is sprayed on the surface of the solid metal member, preferably by plasma jet spraying. It is rapidly solidified to be adherent to the surface of the solid metal member to form a composite preform. The composite preform is cooled at a rate sufficiently low to reduce residual stresses and then hot pressed to eliminate voids in the sprayed metal portion and metallurgically bonded to the surface of the solid member.

Abstract: A method of joining metal materials by spraying molten metal into a cavity between the articles to be joined. Prior to deposition of the metal, the surface of the cavity is cleaned and the articles to be joined are preheated. Subsequent to deposition of the metal within the cavity, the joined articles are cooled at a rate that precludes damage due to thermal effects and the deposited metal is consolidated in the cavity by hot pressing.