Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a side dam block for a continuous metal caster apparatus. The block comprises a body of molten metal resistant material having a metal-contacting surface. The metal contacting surface has a plurality of indentations therein, the indentations having openings at the metal-contacting surface dimensioned to prevent penetration of molten metal into the indentations under casting conditions. Due to a smaller area of direct contact between the molten metal and the surfaces of the blocks, the blocks extract less heat from the molten metal than conventional blocks and help to reduce so-called “dog-bone” and “sink” type deformation of the cast article.

Abstract: The invention relates to a monotectic aluminium plain bearing alloy, comprising 5 to 20 wt. % bismuth, 3 to 20 wt. % zinc, 1 to 4 wt. % copper and additionally several of the components manganese, vanadium, niobium, nickel, molybdenum, cobalt, iron, tungsten, chromium, silver, calcium, scandium, cerium, beryllium, antimony, boron, titanium, carbon and zirconium in amounts up to 5 wt. % and aluminium to make 100 wt. %, produced by strip casting and during the subsequent production process for plain bearings, after rolling or roll-bonding, subjected to a heat treatment at ca. 270 to 400° C. Long bismuth particles or sheets, produced by rolling or roll-bonding can thus be recoagulated to give finely-distributed spherical drops with a size in the 20 ?m range and smaller.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy comprises aluminum, magnesium, scandium, and an enhancing system. The magnesium is from about 0.5 percent to about 10.0 percent by weight based on the aluminum alloy. The scandium is from about 0.05 percent to about 10.0 percent by weight based on the aluminum alloy. The enhancing system is from about 0.05 percent to about 1.5 percent by weight based on the aluminum alloy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lead-free free-cutting aluminum brass alloy and its manufacturing method. The alloy comprises: 57.0˜63.0 wt % Cu, 0.3˜0.7 wt % Al, 0.1˜0.5 wt % Bi, 0.2˜0.4 wt % Sn, 0.1˜0.5 wt % Si, 0.01˜0.15 wt % P, at least two elements selected from the group of 0.01-0.15 wt % Mg, 0.0016-0.0020 wt % B, and 0.001-0.05 wt % rare earth elements and the balance being Zn and unavoidable impurities. The inventive alloy has excellent castability, weldability, cuttability and corrosion resistance. It is suitable for low pressure die casting, gravity casting, horizontal continuous casting, forging and extrusion. Its metal material cost is lower than bismuth brass. It is particularly applicable for components used in drinking water supply systems and other structural components. It is a new environmentally-friendly free-cutting aluminum brass alloy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lead-free free-cutting aluminum brass alloy and its manufacturing method. The alloy comprises: 57.0˜63.0 wt % Cu, 0.3˜0.7 wt % Al, 0.1˜0.5 wt % Bi, 0.2˜0.4 wt % Sn, 0.1˜0.5 wt % Si, 0.01˜0.15 wt % P, at least two elements selected from the group of 0.01-0.15 wt % Mg, 0.0016-0.0020 wt % B, and 0.001-0.05 wt % rare earth elements and the balance being Zn and unavoidable impurities. The inventive alloy has excellent castability, weldability, cuttability and corrosion resistance. It is suitable for low pressure die casting, gravity casting, horizontal continuous casting, forging and extrusion. Its metal material cost is lower than bismuth brass. It is particularly applicable for components used in drinking water supply systems and other structural components. It is a new environmentally-friendly free-cutting aluminum brass alloy.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for forming a trench of a predetermined shape. The trench-forming assembly includes a removable longitudinal form body, a pair of frame members and at least one mounting bracket assembly. The form body is capable of shaping a moldable trench forming composition poured around the form. Each frame member includes a support surface, and is in engagement with a respective side surface of the form body. The mounting bracket assemblies, each of which can include a mounting bracket and a pair of hook members, extend laterally across the top surface of the form body. In this regard, each mounting bracket assembly removably engages a downwardly facing side of the support surface of the frame members.

Abstract: A method for producing an RE-containing alloy represented by formula R(T1?xAx)13?y (wherein R represents Ce, etc.; T represents Fe, etc.; and A represents Al, etc; 0.05?x?0.2; and ?1?y?1) including a melting step of melting alloy raw materials at 1,200 to 1,800° C.; and a solidification step of rapidly quenching the molten metal produced through the above step, to thereby form the first RE-containing alloy, wherein the solidification step is performed at a cooling rate of 102 to 104° C./second, as measured at least within a range of the temperature of the molten metal to 900° C.; and an RE-containing alloy, which is represented by a compositional formula of RrTtAa (wherein R and A represent the same meaning as above, T represents Fe, etc.; 5.0 at. %?r?6.8 at. %, 73.8 at. %?t?88.7 at. %, and 4.6 at. %?a?19.4 at. %) and has an alloy microstructure containing an NaZn13-type crystal structure in an amount of at least 85 mass % and ?-Fe in an amount of 5-15 mass % inclusive.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of continuous casting of aluminum-killed steel, using a refractory martial containing 20 mass % or more of CaO.MgO-based clinker. 60% or more of MgO grains included in the grains of the CaO.MgO-based clinker have a diameter of 50 ?m or less. The refractory martial is used at least at a portion to be in contact with molten steel. The present invention can reduce the diameter of MgO grains as inclusions in slabs to suppress the occurrence of flaws in a milled sheet metal.

Abstract: In a mold for casting a billet with a curved type continuous casting apparatus, D0 (m) is an inner diameter at a lower mold edge and R0 (m) is a curvature radius of an outer curvature side at the lower mold edge. When a rate of change Tp (%/m) in mold inner diameter per unit length along a casting direction is Tp=(1/D0)×(dD/dx)×100 (%/m), and when a rate of change Rp (%/m) in curvature radius of an outer curvature side per unit length along the casting direction is Rp=(1/R0)×(dR/dx)×100 (%/m), the rate of change Tp in mold inner diameter and the rate of change Rp in curvature radius satisfy a relationship expressed Rp=(Tp/2)×(D0/R0), where D is a mold inner diameter at a distance x away from an upper mold edge and R in Formula 2 is a curvature radius of the outer curvature side at the distance x.

Abstract: A continuous casting device for producing slabs of steel having a mold and a roller apron downstream of the mold which has frameworks with bottom frames and top frames at which are provided guide rollers whose gap width is continuously adjustable by means of adjusting elements which connect the frames. Cylinders controlled by switching valves are provided as adjusting elements. The advantages of position-regulated cylinders as adjusting elements are made use of, but at a reduced cost. To this end, the valves are constructed as fast switching valves, or the valves are provided with a control enabling a fast switching process.

Abstract: The present invention provides high strength steel having unprecedentedly superior CTOD (fracture toughness) properties satisfying not only the CTOD properties of the FL zone at ?60° C., but also the CTOD properties of the ICHAZ zone in small and medium heat input multilayer welding etc. and a method of production of the same. The steel of the present invention is steel superior in CTOD properties of the heat-affected zone containing, by mass %, C: 0.015 to 0.045%, Si: 0.05 to 0.2%, Mn: 1.5 to 2.0%, Cu: 0.25 to 0.5%, Ni: 0.7 to 1.5%, P: 0.008% or less, S: 0.005% or less, Al: 0.004% or less, Ti: 0.005 to 0.015%, Nb: 0.005% or less, 0: 0.0015 to 0.0035%, and N: 0.002 to 0.006%, PCTOD: 0.065 or less, CeqH: 0.235 or less and the balance consisting of Fe and unavoidable impurities.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous casting installation, for example for steel billet and bloom formats having substantially rectangular or circular cross-section. The invention improves the strand structure in the corner areas, to avoid rhomboidity, cracks and dimensional imperfections of the strand cross-section while achieving a high throughput capacity per strand and reducing investment and running costs. The fillets of the groove curvatures in the die cavity amount to a proportion of the length of the side of the strand cross-section. The degree of curvature 1/R of the groove curvatures decreases in the direction of the strand at least along at least partial length of the entire casting die, thereby achieving gap elimination between the casting shell and the casting die wall and/or a targeted casting shell shaping in the area of the groove curvature.

Abstract: A method of making a grid for a battery plate of a lead-acid battery. A substantially planar web is manufactured to include a plurality of spaced apart and interconnected wire segments, which at least partially define substantially planar surfaces, have a plurality of transverse lands, and interconnect at a plurality of nodes to define a plurality of open spaces between the wire segments. The web is reformed to change the cross-sectional shape of the wire segments. Other aspects may include simultaneously reducing the thickness of at least a portion of the web while reshaping the wire segments, and/or providing controlled surface roughness on at least one of the surfaces of the web to increase surface area of the grid and thereby promote adhesion of an electrochemically active material to the grid.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy for producing an aluminum strip for lithographic print plate carriers, a method for producing an aluminum alloy for lithographic print plate carriers, in which, during the production of the aluminum alloy, after the electrolysis of the aluminum oxide, the liquid aluminum, up to the casting of the aluminum alloy, is supplied to a plurality of purification steps, as well as an aluminum strip for lithographic print plate carriers and a corresponding use of the aluminum strip for lithographic print plate carriers include a carbide content of less than 10 ppm, and preferably less than 1 ppm. As a result, the aluminum alloy, the method for producing the aluminum alloy, the aluminum strip, and corresponding use of the aluminum strip for lithographic print plate carriers described herein allow for the use of virtually gas-tight coatings.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for predicting and controlling the castability of liquid steel. According to said method, the chemical composition of a melt to be cast is analyzed, an alloy calculation is carried out, alloy elements and/or additions are determined in order to obtain defined material characteristics of the steel, and operating diagrams are drawn up for further treatment of the melt. The interactions of the alloy and/or addition elements, which influence the castability, are taken into account during the alloy calculation as supplemental conditions.

Abstract: A first inclined surface and a second inclined surface are provided on the inside of a mold to constitute a so-called two-step tapered mold. A mold powder is adjusted to have a total content of CaO component and SiO2 component of not less than 50 wt %, and a content of F component of not more than 11 wt %. The inclination rates of the first and second inclined surfaces are set according to the basicity or solidification temperature of the powder to be used. The pore area of molten steel discharge ports of a dipping nozzle is set to not less than 2500 mm2 to less than 6400 m2. The discharge angle of the molten steel discharge ports is set, based on the horizontal, obliquely downward to not less than 10° to not more than 35°. According to such a continuous casting method, solidification delay at angle parts of a bloom can be suppressed.

Abstract: A method of controlling heat flux between the casting pool and the surfaces of the casting roll in a strip steel casting process includes controlling the concentration of nitrogen in the steel melt. The concentration of nitrogen may be controlled to achieve an operational heat transfer to the casting roll. The beat flux to the casting rolls may be controlled by maintaining the sum of partial pressures calculated from the nitrogen and hydrogen concentrations in the casting pool below 1.15 atmospheres. Decreasing the concentration of nitrogen can increase heat flux at the casting rolls.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a magnesium alloy material such as a magnesium alloy cast material or a magnesium alloy rolled material, excellent in mechanical characteristics and surface precision, a producing method capable of stably producing such material, a magnesium alloy formed article utilizing the rolled material, and a producing method therefor. The invention provides a producing method for a magnesium alloy material, including a melting step of melting a magnesium alloy in a melting furnace to obtain a molten metal, a transfer step of transferring the molten metal from the melting furnace to a molten metal reservoir, and a casting step of supplying a movable mold with the molten metal from the molten metal reservoir, through a pouring gate, and solidifying the molten metal to continuously produce a cast material. In a process from the melting step to the casting step, parts contacted by the molten metal are formed by a low-oxygen material having an oxygen content of 20 mass % or less.

Abstract: A permanent chill mold for the continuous casting of metal, having a mold cavity (2) which has a pouring slot (3), an exit opening (4) and a casting cone (6). At least one concave bulging (7) is provided that extends in the casting direction (G), which begins at a distance (A) below a predetermined casting bath level position (5) and extends up to the exit opening (4).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of strip casting an aluminum alloy from immiscible liquids that yields a highly uniform structure of fine second phase particles. The results of the present invention are achieved by using a known casting process to cast the alloy into a thin strip at high speeds. In the method of the present invention, the casting speed is preferably in the region of about 50-300 feet per minute (fpm) and the thickness of the strip preferably smaller than 0.08-0.25 inches. Under these conditions, favorable results are achieved when droplets of the immiscible liquid phase nucleate in the liquid ahead of the solidification front established in the casting process. The droplets of the immiscible phase are engulfed by the rapidly moving freeze front into the space between the Secondary Dendrite Arms (SDA).

Abstract: A thin steel strip with low surface roughness and low porosity produced by casting with molten steel having a total oxygen content of at least about 100 ppm and a temperature that allows a majority of any oxide inclusions to be in a liquidus state. The steel strip produced by the method may have a per unit area density of at least about 120 oxide inclusions per square millimeter to a depth of about 2 microns from the strip surface.

Abstract: A method of producing aluminum castings which includes the steps of casting a molten alloy, contacting the surface of the molten alloy with a humidified atmosphere and solidifying the alloy. The method is particularly suited for aluminum-magnesium alloys such as AA 5XXX and 7XXX series alloys. In addition to reducing the thickness of the surface oxide layer formed during casting, the method also provides improved surface quality of cast products and reduces subsequent remedial re-work or scalping. An improved aluminum-magnesium cast alloy product is also disclosed.

Abstract: A die cavity of a casting die, such as for continuously casting billets, blooms and blanks. The die cavity has a cross-section with a partially curved peripheral line, whereby, with the cavity walls cooled, provides improved heat exchange between a forming strand shell and the die cavity wall, thus avoiding solidification defects in the strand shell. The degree of curvature 1/R is reduced at least on part of the curved peripheral line of the corner regions from peripheral lines of the same corner regions, that are successive in the casting direction, and at least over part of the length of the die, in the concave corner regions of the die cavity, in order to control the targeted closure of the gap between the strand shell and the cooled die cavity, or a targeted strand shell deformation.

Abstract: A novel process for the continuous casting of lead-free bronze alloys. By careful control of such factors as the melt temperature, order of addition of alloy components, cooling temperature and withdrawal rates, continuous casting of high quality lead-free bronze alloys can be achieved.

Abstract: Pinch roll apparatus has a pair of pinch rolls each having a diameter between 300–1500 millimeters positioned to form a nip through which metal strip can be continuously fed. The pinch rolls are positioned one above the other with the axes of the pinch rolls offset in the direction of travel of strip, with the upper pinch roll offset positioned between 10 and 130 mm downstream of the direction of travel of the strip through the pinch rolls. A rotational drive counter rotates the pinch rolls to cause strip to pass through the nip of the pinch rolls. A tilt drive tilts the upper pinch rolls by a tilt between 0.5 and 5.0 mm to control steering of the strip passing through the pinch rolls. The steering of the tilt drive may be automatically controlled through a controller actuated by a sensor.

Abstract: A method of casting steel strip by introducing molten plain carbon steel on casting surfaces at least one casting roll with the molten steel having a free nitrogen content below 120 ppm and a free hydrogen content below about 6.5 ppm measured at atmospheric pressure. The free nitrogen content maybe below about 100 ppm or below about 85 ppm. The free hydrogen content maybe between 1.0 and 6.5 ppm at atmospheric pressure. Novel cast strip of plain carbon steel is produced having a strip thickness less than 5 mm or less than 2 mm by use of the method.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy material for forging obtained by a continuous casting process, the alloy comprising: a surface of which roughness is not more than Ra 35, and a segregation layer having 0.1 to 2 mm thickness and generated in the surface. The cast surface after continuous casting is smooth without peeling, a cast material can be forged without any treatment, and a segregation layer remains in a surface layer, thereby inhibiting coarsening of recrystallization grains and exhibiting superior toughness and strength.

Abstract: Pinch roll apparatus has a pair of pinch rolls each having a diameter between 300–1500 millimeters positioned to form a nip through which metal strip can be continuously fed. The pinch rolls are positioned one above the other with the axes of the pinch rolls offset in the direction of travel of strip, with the upper pinch roll offset positioned between 10 and 130 mm downstream of the direction of travel of the strip through the pinch rolls. A rotational drive counter rotates the pinch rolls to cause strip to pass through the nip of the pinch rolls. A tilt drive tilts the upper pinch rolls by a tilt between 0.5 and 5.0 mm to control steering of the strip passing through the pinch rolls. The steering of the tilt drive may be automatically controlled through a controller actuated by a sensor.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuous vertical casting of metal strips, comprising: a mould (10) having top and bottom ends an open-ended mould cavity (C), a tundish (11) having a discharge opening (11A) in direct communication with the mould cavity (C) to feed molten metal into a mould entrance opening (E) past an interface between the tundish (11) and the mould (10); a sealing device (14) forming a seal at said tundish-mould interface to prevent molten metal from entering said interface, and a device (12) for supplying molten metal to the tundish (11) and maintaining a level of molten metal therein. The scaling device (14) comprises a pair of flat horizontal surfaces (10A, 11B), one on the mould around the entrance opening (E) and one on the tundish (10) around the discharge opening (11A), and a sealing element (14A) formed of a sheet of graphite and being in constant sealing engagement with both said surfaces (10A, 11B).

Abstract: Molds are fabricated having a substrate of high density, high strength ultrafine grained isotropic graphite, and having a mold cavity coated with a refractory metal such as W or Re or a refractory metal carbide such as TaC or HfC. The molds may be made by making the substrate (main body) of high density, high strength ultrafine grained isotropic graphite, by, for example, isostatic or vibrational molding, machining the substrate to form the mold cavity, and coating the mold cavity with titanium carbide via either chemical deposition or plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition, magnetron sputtering or sputtering. The molds may be used to make various metallic alloys such as nickel, cobalt and iron based superalloys, stainless steel alloys, titanium alloys and titanium aluminide alloys into engineering components by melting the alloys in a vacuum or under a low partial pressure of inert gas and subsequently casting the melt in the graphite molds under vacuum or low partial pressure of inert gas.

Abstract: A mold shorter side frame of a continuous casting mold is exchanged integrally as it is to enable on-line change of the thickness of the case piece. As the method, a concave portion for engaging a portion of the moving device and an attaching/detaching mechanism having a fixing jig for fixing the portion of the moving device are disposed at the back of the shorter side frame. Particularly, an attaching/detaching mechanism comprising a concave forming portion having a downwarded opening and a bolt screw passing from the back of the concave forming portion through at least a portion of said portion of the moving device is suitable.

Abstract: A chill tube made of copper for the continuous casting of metals has a multi-corner inner and outer cross section and a nominal wall thickness which amounts to 8% to 10% of the separation distance of the inner surfaces lying frontally opposite each other at the tube opening. The inner surfaces are placed indirectly under the heat-removing influence of a cooling medium suppliable from the outside to the tube wall. In the height range of the bath level of the liquid metal, the wall thickness is reduced over the entire circumference by 10% to 40% of the nominal wall thickness.

Abstract: A method for producing a steel beam blank includes continuously casting a steel beam blank strand and cooling the steel beam blank strand in a secondary cooling zone. The steel beam blank strand is guided in a vertical casting plane along a curved path having its web perpendicular to the vertical casting plane, so that each of the lateral flanges has an intrados flange tip and an extrados flange tip. The method further includes straightening the steel beam blank strand behind the secondary cooling zone. When being straightened, the intrados flange tips are selectively reheated between the secondary cooling and the straightening of the steel beam blank strand via an external energy supply focused on the intrados flange tips. In this manner, transverse cracks in the intrados flange tips may be reliably avoided.

Abstract: An open-ended mold for casting metal strands with a thin slab cross section, the mold having broad-side walls which form a central widening region which extends from the mold inlet edge to the mold outlet edge and at the outlet edge opens out in a rectangular outlet cross section. To prevent to a great extent the strand from coming away from the broad-side walls, the contour of the mold cavity in the widening region is formed, as seen in sectional planes taken at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the mold, by curves which at least in partial regions form clothoids or clothoidal curves, within which sudden changes in curvature (&Dgr;k) are minimized or reduced to zero. The curvature reduces to flat at the mold outlet edge. Other cavity surface features are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for blasting calibrating a chill mold (1) is provided. A calibrating mandrel is inserted into chill mold (1), thereafter an explosive material is placed on the outer surface (4) of chill mold (1) and is ignited. The inner side (3) of chill mold (1) is pressed against the calibrating mandrel by the explosive force, and brought to the setpoint measure. In the mold wall (2), chill mold (1) has bores (5) for cooling means and for measuring elements, which extend in the longitudinal direction (LR) of chill mold (1) and exit at the end faces (6, 7) of mold wall (2). Before the blasting calibration, the bores (5) are filled up with a free-flowing material and tightly closed. The free-flowing material is preferably an incompressible fluid and/or a bulk material.

Abstract: A continuous casting installation for producing thin slabs includes a laterally adjustable mold in which an immersion nozzle protrudes. In the mold there is opposite a larger crowned cross section on the charging side a cross section on the strand outlet side which is small and identically crowned in the central region. The installation further has pairs of supporting and guiding rollers which follow the mold and have a caliber adapted to the emerging crowned strand. The broad-face parts have planar-surface central parts which are arranged parallel to one another along their widths and taper toward one another in the casting direction of the strand. The broad-face parts also have planar side surfaces arranged so that they taper conically toward each other in the direction of the narrow faces. The planar-surface central plate is connected to the planar-surface side surfaces by transitional parts.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for providing consistent lubricant and/or gas flow through multiple permeable perimeter walls in a casting mold table. One or more of the properties of the perimeter walls indicative of the lubricant flow or gas flow rates through the perimeter walls are predetermined and the sizing of the surface area of the delivery conduits providing the lubricant or the gas are determined based on a correlation to the properties related to the measured or estimated lubricant flow rate and/or measured or estimated gas flow rates through the perimeter walls.

Abstract: Methods for making various metallic alloys such as nickel, cobalt and/or iron based superalloys, stainless steel alloys, titanium alloys and titanium aluminide alloys into engineering components by melting of the alloys in a vacuum or under a low partial pressure of inert gas and subsequent casting of the melt in the graphite molds under vacuum or low partial pressure of inert gas are provided, the molds having been fabricated by machining high density, high strength ultrafine grained isotropic graphite, wherein the graphite has been made by isostatic pressing or vibrational molding.

Abstract: Molds are fabricated having a substrate of high density, high strength ultrafine grained isotropic graphite, and having a mold cavity coated with titanium carbide. The molds may be made by making the substrate (main body) of high density, high strength ultrafine grained isotropic graphite, by, for example, isostatic or vibrational molding, machining the substrate to form the mold cavity, and coating the mold cavity with titanium carbide via either chemical deposition or plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition, magnetron sputtering or sputtering. The molds may be used to make various metallic alloys such as nickel, cobalt and iron based superalloys, stainless steel alloys, titanium alloys and titanium aluminide alloys into engineering components by melting the alloys in a vacuum or under a low partial pressure of inert gas and subsequently casting the melt in the graphite molds under vacuum or low partial pressure of inert gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for fabricating of continuous castings with fine and uniform microstructure, which can be used as feedstock for secondary processing routes, such as thixoforming, forging and machining or direct application in industry. An overheated liquid alloy is fed into a high shear device (for example, a twin-screw extruder) and sheared intensively to produce a sheared liquid alloy or a semisolid slurry, wherein the sheared liquid alloy is at a temperature close to its liquidus and the semisolid slurry is then transferred to a shaping device for production of continuous castings with fine and uniform microstructures through a solidification process. The shaping device is any device capable of forming continuous (i.e.

Abstract: Molds are fabricated having a substrate of high density, high strength ultrafine grained isotropic graphite, and having a mold cavity coated with pyrolytic graphite. The molds may be made by making the substrate (main body) of high density, high strength ultrafine grained isotropic graphite, by, for example, isostatic or vibrational molding, machining the substrate to form the mold cavity, and coating the mold cavity with pyrolytic graphite via a chemical deposition process. The molds may be used to make various metallic alloys such as nickel, cobalt and iron based superalloys, stainless steel alloys, titanium alloys and titanium aluminide alloys into engineering components by melting the alloys in a vacuum or under a low partial pressure of inert gas and subsequently casting the melt in the graphite molds under vacuum or low partial pressure of inert gas.

Abstract: Method for the casting of metallic products on a continuous-casting plant comprising a tundish coated on the inside with a refractory material, characterized in that metal plates are fastened to the surface of the said refractory material prior to the filling of the said tundish with the liquid metal to be cast.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for preparing a metal or metal-alloy product for a casting process—wherein the product is brought into a partly solidified (semi-solidified) state before casting—in which the product contains crystallization nuclei uniformly distributed throughout its volume. The method involves introducing an amount of a chosen alloy (in pulverized form) and an amount of a chosen melt, which is at a temperature above the liquefaction temperature of the alloy, into a crystallization vessel, which is heated to below the liquefaction temperature of the alloy, and mixing the melt and the alloy together in the crystallization vessel by means of electrical and/or magnetic forces to create the desired product.

Abstract: A method of continuous casting aluminum alloys between a pair of rolls. Molten aluminum alloy is delivered to a roll bite between the rolls and passes into the roll nip in a semi-molten state. A solid strip of cast aluminum alloy exits the nip at speeds of about 25 to about 400 feet per minute. Thin gauge (0.07-0.25 inch) strip may be produced at rates of up to 2000 pounds per hour per inch of cast strip width.

Abstract: Methods for making various nickel based superalloys into engineering components such as rings, tubes and pipes by melting of the alloys in a vacuum or under a low partial pressure of inert gas and subsequent centrifugal casting of the melt in the graphite molds rotating along its own axis under vacuum or low partial pressure of inert gas are provided. The molds have been fabricated by machining high density, high strength ultrafine grained isotropic graphite, wherein the graphite has been made by isostatic pressing or vibrational molding.

Abstract: A continuously cast copper ingot is made by a procedure in which turbulence is imparted to the metal/solid interface during the casting operation. The ingot is then hot worked to form a billet having a smaller average grain size and a larger diameter than possible in the past. The billet is especially useful for making electroplating anodes used in the damascene process for making copper interconnects in silicon wafers.

Abstract: A mold for the continuous casting of beam blanks is provided with a casting passage which, as seen in a transverse plane of the mold, has two lateral portions for forming the flanges of a beam blank and a central portion for forming the web of the beam blank. The thickness of the mold wall is reduced in the central portion of the casting passage in order to improve heat transfer.

Abstract: A substantially rectangular-section casting conduit of an ingot mold, for continuous casting of molten metal, is divided into two portions; a first portion has a variable inner section, by having rounded inner edges with a radius of curvature decreasing gradually in the flow direction of the molten metal along the conduit; the second portion is consecutive with the first portion, and has a constant inner section with rounded inner edges of a predetermined optimum radius of curvature for subsequent rolling operations. The design of the first portion of the casting conduit prevents the metal, as it cools and contracts through the conduit, from detaching from the walls, and in particular from the edges, of the mold, thus enabling an increase in casting speed with no fall in product quality.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for providing consistent lubricant and/or gas flow through multiple permeable perimeter walls in a casting mold table. One or more of the properties of the perimeter walls indicative of the lubricant flow or gas flow rates through the perimeter walls are pre-determined and the sizing of the surface area of the delivery conduits providing the lubricant or the gas are determined based on a correlation to the properties related to the measured or estimated lubricant flow rate and/or measured or estimated gas flow rates through the perimeter walls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing thin slabs and to a continuous casting installation for this purpose, having a laterally adjustable mold into which an immersion nozzle protrudes, and in which there is opposite a larger crowned cross section on the charging side a cross section on the strand outlet side which is small and identically crowned in the central region, and having pairs of supporting and guiding rollers which follow the mold and have a caliber adapted to the emerging crowned strand.