Abstract: A method of operating a rolling mill in a manner that avoids the occurrence of alligatoring in a slab of metal as it is reduced in thickness in the mill. The slab is subject to a schedule of repeated passes through the mill to effect a predetermined amount of reduction in thickness of the slab in each pass. The method comprises the steps of analyzing the pass schedule of such a slab, and noting any pass in the schedule that has a combination of entry gauge and reduction draft that may subject the slab to alligatoring. An untapered nose of the slab is next presented to the bite of the mill, and if the combination of entry gauge and reduction draft is one that is not subject to alligatoring, the slab is passed through the mill to reduce its thickness as scheduled.

Abstract: A method of reducing the thickness of a slab of metal under conditions that tend to produce alligator defects in the ends of the slab, the method comprising the steps of tapering at least one end of the slab and directing the same into a rolling mill. The tapered end of the slab is reduced in thickness in the mill, the amount of reduction increasing as the tapered end passes through the mill. The slab continues through the mill to reduce the thickness of the same. The end of the slab is again tapered and directed again through a rolling mill, with each of said tapers providing combinations of entry thickness to thickness reduction such that the reduction taken in the area of each taper is in an entry thickness to thickness reduction zone that does not produce alligatoring in the ends of the slab. The remaining untapered portion of the slab is reduced in thickness in the mill in an entry thickness to thickness reduction zone in which alligator formation tends to occur.

Abstract: A method for reducing the thickness of a slab of metal under conditions which tend to cause alligator defects to occur. The method comprises the steps of directing a relatively thick slab of metal several times through a rolling mill or mills to incrementally reduce the thickness of the slab until the thickness approaches a value that tends to produce a longitudinal and lateral fracture in one or both ends of the slab. The thickness of the slab is further reduced by passing the same several times again through a rolling mill or mills, with each of the passes of the slab taking a decreasing amount of reduction in thickness until a predetermined thickness value is reached. The next step involves passing the slab again through a rolling mill to further reduce the thickness thereof, the amount of reduction in this step and pass being substantially greater than that of the last pass immediately preceding this step.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a fully dense high temperature powdered metal component. This process comprises the steps of filling a centrally located mold cavity with a high temperature powder, heating the filled mold to a temperature greater than half the melting temperature of the powder in degrees centigrade and less than the melting temperature of the powder, while the cavity is maintained in a vacuum level of at least twenty microns of mercury, axially compressing the heated mold while maintaining the vacuum at a pressure of at least 345 megapascals, while restricting the mold about its lateral periphery holding the mold in a compressed state for at least 20 seconds after attaining maximum pressure, and separating the mold materials from the component. The mold is composed of a material having substantially the same flow stress throughout, and the material is able to maintain its dimensional stability in a viscoelastic state at a temperature of between approximately 950.degree. to 1300.degree. C.