Abstract: A mold for metal casting contains a bonded refractory composition comprising hollow alumina-containing microspheres in which the alumina content is at least 40% by weight. The mold may be an ingot mold and the bonded refractory composition may be in the form of a sleeve or boards located in the top of the mold or in the head box thereto. The mold may be a sand mold and the bonded refractory composition may be in the form of a sleeve or boards located in a feeder cavity or in the form of a board or pad located so as to constitute a metal casting surface where it is desired to promote directional solidification in cast metal. The bonded refractory composition may also be in the form of a breaker core. In a preferred composition the microspheres contain alumina and silica and the composition may also contain one or more other particulate refractory materials, a readily oxidizable metal, an oxidizing metal, an oxidizing agent for the metal and a fluoride salt.

Abstract: A lead-acid battery in which the plates are fabricated from a paste containing principally lead oxide and a small amount of dimensionally isotropic graphite fiber of a specific type. The specific type of graphite fiber may be either a graphite fiber synthesized from a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor or a graphite fiber synthesized from a pitch precursor.

Abstract: An exothermic composition comprises a particulate readily oxidizable metal such as aluminum, magnesium or silicon and an organic fluorine-containing compound, and usually an oxidizing agent for the readily oxidizable metal. The preferred organic fluorine-containing compound is polytetrafluoroethylene. The composition may also contain a binder, a particulate refractory material, refractory fibres and/or organic fibres. The composition may be used in the casting of molten metal, either in particulate form or as a preformed shape such as a sleeve or board, to cover or surround molten metal in the feeder of a casting mould or in the head or head box of an ingot mould.

Abstract: Molten iron is cast into a mould through a filter located in the runner system of the mould using a filter comprising a body having a plurality of cells, at least some of the cells having their walls at least partially coated with a first layer of wax and a second layer of an inoculant, such as graphite, calcium silicide or ferrosilicon, for the iron.

Abstract: An exothermic composition comprises a particulate readily oxidizable metal such as aluminium, magnesium or silicon and an organic fluorine-containing compound, and usually an oxidizing agent for the readily oxidizable metal. The preferred organic fluorine-containing compound is polytetrafluoroethylene. The composition may also contain a binder, a particulate refractory material, refractory fibres and/or organic fibres. The composition may be used in the casting of molten metal, either in particulate form or as a preformed shape such as a sleeve or board, to cover or surround molten metal in the feeder of a casting mould or in the head or head box of an ingot mould.

Abstract: A riser sleeve has at its end which is uppermost when the sleeve is located in the mould a holding member which can be engaged by a mechanical holding device so as to adapt the sleeve to automatic handling. The holding member may be for example a disc, ring or solid or hollow cylinder and may be formed integrally with the sleeve or formed separately and fixed to the sleeve. By adopting a standard shape and size for the holding member for a wide range of sleeve shapes and sizes the same holding device can be used to handle the whole range of sleeves.