Abstract: An asbestos-free insulating material suitable for use as a header in molten metal casting. The material is made from a dry mixture comprising lime, siliceous component, delaminated vermiculite or spodumene or lithium aluminate or mixtures thereof, and optionally, wollastonite and organic fiber. The dry mixture is mixed with water to form a slurry, shaped, heated in the presence of steam, and dried to remove free water.

Abstract: A container for a material, said container having a liner comprised of an equilibrated reaction product of the material. Preferably, the material is a molten aluminum-lithium alloy and the reaction product consists essentially of lithium aluminate. A method of making the container comprises shaping a substance into a vessel, said substance having sufficient porosity to react with the material and form a non-wetting reaction product without spalling; and introducing the material to the vessel. A method of making a container liner by applying a substance to the container inner surface and introducing the alloy to the inner surface is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for continuous direct chill casting of aluminum alloys, particularly aluminum-lithium alloys. The molten alloy is cast in a mold containing a header comprising delaminated vermiculite or spodumene or lithium aluminate. The header preferably comprises delaminated vermiculite blended with wollastonite, lime, silica, and wood fiber. The mixture is slurried with water, molded into shape, compressed to expel water, steam cured, and dried. The header forms ingots of good quality and has excellent resistance to attack by molten aluminum-lithium alloys.

Abstract: A causticization method including the steps of calcining limestone in the presence of additive means for producing lime of increased lime efficiency relative to the lime that would result from calcining such limestone without the presence of the additive means, lime efficiency being determined on a sodium carbonate solution for which conditions, other than the character of the lime, are fixed, and subsequently feeding the lime of increased lime efficiency into the sodium carbonate solution for producing sodium hydroxide and calcium carbonate from the sodium carbonate.