Abstract: The invention relates to nuclear engineering and more particularly to controlled reactor start-up. The invention addresses a secondary startup neutron source by creating additional safety barriers between the coolant and the source active part materials. The secondary startup neutron source is designed as a steel enclosure housing an ampule containing antimony in the central enclosure made of a niobium-based alloy unreactive with antimony, with a beryllium powder bed located between the antimony enclosure and the ampule enclosure. An upper gas collector, located above the ampule serves as a compensation volume collecting gaseous fission products. The ampule is supported by a reflector and a bottom gas collector. The gas collectors, reflector, ampule enclosure and washers are made of martensite-ferrite grade steel.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described herein related to methods and systems for casting metal alloys into articles such as BMG articles. In one embodiment, processes involved for storing, pre-treating, alloying, melting, injecting, molding, etc. can be combined as desired and conducted in different chambers. During these processes, each chamber can be independently, separately controlled to have desired chamber environment, e.g., under vacuum, in an inert gas environment, or open to the surrounding environment. Due to the flexible, independent control of each chamber, the casting cycle time can be reduced and the production throughput can be increased. Contaminations of the molten materials and thus the final products are reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: Provided is a Fe—Al alloy sputtering target having an Al content of 1 to 23 at %, an oxygen content of 100 wt ppm or less, and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities. Also, provided is a method of producing a Fe—Al alloy sputtering target having an Al content of 1 to 23 at %, an oxygen content of 100 wt ppm or less, and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, the method in which: a Fe raw material and an Al raw material, i.e., 1 to 23 at % of Al and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, are melted at a melting temperature of 1200 to 1600° C. and an average rate of raising temperature of 300° C./hr or more (wherein, when the Al content is 15 to 23 at %, the melting is performed at a melting temperature in the range of 1400 to 1600° C. and an average rate of raising temperature of 320° C./hr or more or at a melting temperature from 1200° C. to less than 1400° C.

Abstract: A Zr-based amorphous alloy is provided; the formula of the Zr-based amorphous alloy is (Zr, Hf, Nb)aCubNicAldRee, where a, b, c, d, and e are corresponding atomic percent content of elements in the Zr-based amorphous alloy, 45?a?65, 15?b?40, 0.1?c?15, 5?d?15, 0.05?e?5, a+b+c+d+e?100, and Re is one of or any combination of elements La, Ce, Po, Ho, Er, Nd, Gd, Dy, Sc, Eu, Tm, Tb, Pr, Sm, Yb, and Lu, or Re is combined with Y and one of or any combination of elements La, Ce, Po, Ho, Er, Nd, Gd, Dy, Sc, Eu, Tm, Tb, Pr, Sm, Yb, and Lu.

Abstract: A medical implant and/or device, which includes a biodegradable and cytocompatible magnesium-zinc-strontium alloy is disclosed. The implant and/or device can include a biodegradable and cytocompatible magnesium-zinc-strontium (Mg—Zn—Sr) alloy having a weight percent composition of Zn and Sr as follows: 0.01?Zn?6 wt %, 0.01?Sr?3 wt %. A method for manufacturing an implant in the form of a biodegradable and cytocompatible magnesium-zinc-strontium alloy is disclosed, which includes melting the biodegradable and cytocompatible magnesium-zinc-strontium alloy in an inert environment and molding the biodegradable magnesium-zinc-strontium alloy in a semi-solid state.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for forming aluminum alloy ingots in a sealed chamber having a source of inert gas using a crucible positioned inside the chamber for melting aluminum alloy powder. The crucible has a solid top and a source of inert gas therein. An outlet in the crucible is positioned to draw molten alloy from the crucible at a point proximate the lowest point in the crucible.

Abstract: Titanium sterling silver alloy compositions that exhibit enhanced tarnish resistance while maintaining an acceptable hardness. Applications and manufacturing methods thereof are disclosed.

Abstract: A feed system for introducing semi-solid metal alloy to a die casting machine includes a first chamber for receiving a metal alloy billet and for preparing the semi-solid metal alloy billet. The first chamber includes heaters and a cutting system. The metal alloy billet is heated by the heaters and cut by the cutting system into predetermined lengths to form semi-solid metal alloy portions. The feed system also includes a second chamber connected to the first chamber by a passage to receive the semi-solid metal alloy portions. The second chamber includes a door that opens and closes the passage and a plunger system that introduces the semi-solid metal portions to a die cast machine. An atmosphere control system is in fluid communication with the first chamber and the second chamber. The atmosphere control system removes oxygen from the feed system. A method using the feed system is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method of forming a wear resistant composite material includes placing a porous wear resistant filler material in a mold cavity and infiltrating the filler material with a matrix material by heating to a temperature sufficient to melt the matrix material, then cooling the assembly to form a wear resistant composite material. The system and method can be used to form the wear resistant composite material on the surface of a substrate, such as a part for excavating equipment or other mechanical part. One suitable matrix material may be any of a variety of ductile iron alloys.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for forming aluminum alloy ingots in a sealed chamber having a source of inert gas using a crucible positioned inside the chamber for melting aluminum alloy powder. The crucible has a solid top and a source of inert gas therein. An outlet in the crucible is positioned to draw molten alloy from the crucible at a point proximate the lowest point in the crucible.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a header assembly having a header section and a tube section includes the steps of providing a reverse mold of the header assembly, forming the header section by filling a header section of the reverse mold with an atomized low alloy steel powder, and forming the tube section. The tube section is formed by filling a first portion of a tube section with an atomized low alloy steel powder, forming a transition region by filling a second portion of the tube section with a series of atomized steel powders incrementally from a low alloy steel to an austenitic stainless steel, and filling a third portion of the tube section with an atomized austenitic stainless steel powder. The method further includes the step of consolidating and melting the atomized powders in a high temperature, high pressure atmosphere.

Abstract: An amorphous alloy having the general formula of: (ZrxAlyCuzNi1-x-y-z)100-a-bScaYb, wherein x, y, and z are atomic percents, and a and b are atom molar ratios, in which: about 0.45?x?about 0.60; about 0.08?y?about 0.12; about 0.25?z?about 0.35; 0<a?about 5; and 0?b<about 0.1.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a low-density high-toughness alloy and the fabrication method thereof. The alloy of the present invention consists essentially of: by weight percent, equal to or greater than 23% but lower than or equal to 33% manganese, equal to or greater than 8.1% but lower than or equal to 9.8% aluminum, equal to or greater than 3% but lower than or equal to 5.0% chromium, equal to or greater than 0.6% but lower than or equal to 1.2% carbon, equal to or greater than 0.1% but lower than or equal to 0.24% silicon and the balance of iron. The golf-club head made from the abovementioned alloy can obtain superior elongation, strength, damping capacity, and corrosion resistance even without any heat treatment, or any hot/cold working, such as forging and rolling; therefore, the fabrication cost thereof can be obviously reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a biocompatible precious metal alloy object. According to a first aspect melting of alloying elements and casting of the biocompatible precious metal alloy are carried out in a process chamber (11) being provided with a process gas of predetermined composition. A burning flame (19) of a hydrocarbon-containing gas provides low oxygen and water content. According to a second aspect post-processing of a precious metal alloy is made in atmosphere provided by the process gas to form the biocompatible precious metal alloy object. The biocompatible precious metal alloy object manufactured according to the invention has a low probability of causing sensitisation when in contact with the human body.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method for producing a component that includes melting a super-alloy or stainless steel alloy and transferring the melted alloy to a mold. The mold is mechanically vibrated while the melted alloy solidifies. The component then is removed from the mold.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a sputter target structure for depositing semiconducting chalcogenide films is described. The sputter target includes a target body comprising at least one chalcogenide alloy having a chalcogenide alloy purity of at least approximately 2N7, gaseous impurities less than 500 ppm for oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), and hydrogen (H) individually, and a carbon (C) impurity less than 500 ppm. In a particular embodiment, the chalcogens of the at least one chalcogenide alloy comprises at least 20 atomic percent of the target body composition, and the chalcogenide alloy has a density of at least 95% of the theoretical density for the chalcogenide alloy.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a low-density high-toughness alloy and the fabrication method thereof. The alloy of the present invention consists essentially of: by weight percent, equal to or greater than 23% but lower than or equal to 33% manganese, equal to or greater than 8.1% but lower than or equal to 9.8% aluminum, equal to or greater than 3% but lower than or equal to 5.0% chromium, equal to or greater than 0.6% but lower than or equal to 1.2% carbon, equal to or greater than 0.1% but lower than or equal to 0.24% silicon and the balance of iron. The golf-club head made from the abovementioned alloy can obtain superior elongation, strength, damping capacity, and corrosion resistance even without any heat treatment, or any hot/cold working, such as forging and rolling; therefore, the fabrication cost thereof can be obviously reduced.

Abstract: A technique for forming titanium alloy tubes mainly includes the steps of: delivering a titanium alloy wire into a upper end of a forming barrel which houses a stem and a holding dock at the top end that are rotatable and movable up and down in a helical manner; inserting a welding gun into the upper end of the forming barrel; melting the titanium alloy wire to become titanium alloy liquid resulting from interactions between the welding gun and the titanium alloy wire under a high temperature released by the welding gun; dropping the titanium alloy liquid onto a holding tube molten trough 15 located at a upper end surface of the holding dock; and stacking repeatedly the titanium alloy liquid on the rotating and downward moving stem in an environment containing inertial gases with less than 6% of hydrogen gas to gradually form a hollow tube.

Abstract: A metal-matrix material in the form of a carbide powder together with a sodium fluoride flux is deposited as a charge within a crucible for induction heating thereof to a flux melting temperature to thereby initiate pretreatment. The molten flux is spread over and covers powder particles of the metal-matrix carbide throughout, in response to stirring by rotation of an agitator during said flux melt heating within the crucible. The charge may be covered within the crucible by an air-purging blanket of argon gas during said heating. The powder fluxed charge is then cooled within the crucible before removal therefrom and sealingly packaged within aluminum soda cans or foil wrappings for future use storage. Such packaged charges are transferred from storage and introduced into a casting mold for enhanced centrifugal cast molding of metallurgical products, such as a metallic ring having an outer carbide bronze surface.

Abstract: Often, metal matrix composites (MMC's) lack adequate machinability and possess excessive abrasiveness because hard ceramic materials, such as silicon carbide, are used as the reinforcement phase. To make a metal matrix composite body having a more machinable and less abrasive surface, an MMC comprising an aluminum nitride reinforcement is formed on the surface of the body. In one embodiment, a layer is provided to a permeable mass or preform at the surface at issue, the layer featuring at least a reduced loading of ceramic filler material, and sometimes no ceramic material at all. The reduced loading is achieved by incorporating a fugitive material into the coating layer. Molten matrix metal is caused to infiltrate the permeable mass or preform and the coating layer to produce a macrocomposite body comprising a metal matrix composite coating and substrate.