[Problem] To provide a marking method and a marking device for a casting that are, even when foreign matter is adhered to a casting to be marked, capable of making an effective and appropriate mark on the casting.

[Solution] Detect foreign matter on an outer surface of a casting 100, set marking locations 118, 120-1, 120-2, and make a mark on the marking locations 118, 120-1, 120-2.

The invention provides a method of refining aluminum alloy, which is characterized in that aluminum-based nanometer quasicrystal alloy is used as an aluminum alloy refiner to refine the aluminum alloy; the aluminum-based nanometer quasicrystal alloy does not comprise Si, Fe or Cr; the aluminum-based nanometer quasicrystal alloy consists of (1) Al; (2) Mn and (3) La and/or Ce. The refiner selected in the invention is rare earth-containing alloy which has a strong refinement ability on the aluminum alloy, and is nanometer quasicrystal; after adding the rare earth-containing alloy to melt, the element distribution of the rare earth-containing alloy is more uniform than that of traditional alloy; and nanometer quasicrystal particles substantially increase the number of heterogeneous nucleation particles and improve the grain refinement effect of the aluminum alloy.

The invention provides a method of refining aluminum alloy, which is characterized in that aluminum-based nanometer quasicrystal alloy is used as an aluminum alloy refiner to refine the aluminum alloy; the aluminum-based nanometer quasicrystal alloy does not comprise Si, Fe or Cr; the aluminum-based nanometer quasicrystal alloy consists of (1) Al; (2) Mn and (3) La and/or Ce. The refiner selected in the invention is rare earth-containing alloy which has a strong refinement ability on the aluminum alloy, and is nanometer quasicrystal; after adding the rare earth-containing alloy to melt, the element distribution of the rare earth-containing alloy is more uniform than that of traditional alloy; and nanometer quasicrystal particles substantially increase the number of heterogeneous nucleation particles and improve the grain refinement effect of the aluminum alloy.

A die casting insert for producing die casted metal parts from liquid metal. The die casting insert has an outer casing shaped to be fixed in the die block of the die casting apparatus. The die casting insert also has a stopper with a purge opening that is adapted to evacuate contaminants topping the liquid metal as pressure is applied to the liquid metal. The stopper, fitted to mate with the hollow inner cavity of the injection sleeve, is constructed to seal the hollow inner cavity of the injection sleeve except at the purge opening when in a first position; and to permit the flow of the liquid metal into at least one molding cavity when the stopper is in a second position. The die casting insert also has an activation mechanism configured to shift the stopper between the first position and the second position.

A method of driving conductive molten metal and a melting furnace, the method including making direct current flow vertically between a first electrode, and applying a magnetic field radially toward the center of a melting chamber from the outside of the melting furnace or toward the outside of the melting furnace from the center of the melting chamber to apply torque. The method further includes rotating the molten metal by the torque to discharge the molten metal to a holding furnace, which is provided on the melting chamber, from an outlet opening of a partition plate provided between the melting chamber and the holding furnace and to suck the molten metal, which is present in the holding furnace, from an inlet opening of the partition plate.

A method of driving conductive molten metal and a melting furnace, the method including making direct current flow vertically between a first electrode, and applying a magnetic field radially toward the center of a melting chamber from the outside of the melting furnace or toward the outside of the melting furnace from the center of the melting chamber to apply torque. The method further includes rotating the molten metal by the torque to discharge the molten metal to a holding furnace, which is provided on the melting chamber, from an outlet opening of a partition plate provided between the melting chamber and the holding furnace and to suck the molten metal, which is present in the holding furnace, from an inlet opening of the partition plate.

Systems and methods are disclosed for using magnetic fields (e.g., changing magnetic fields) to control metal flow conditions during casting (e.g., casting of an ingot, billet, or slab). The magnetic fields can be introduced using rotating permanent magnets or electromagnets. The magnetic fields can be used to induce movement of the molten metal in a desired direction, such as in a rotating pattern around the surface of the molten sump. The magnetic fields can be used to induce metal flow conditions in the molten sump to increase homogeneity in the molten sump and resultant ingot.

Provided is a molten metal holding furnace with heat dissipation and insulating properties. An insertion hole 20 of a molten metal holding furnace 10 has an inside cylindrical portion (tapered surface) 21 and an outside cylindrical portion 22 (cylindrical surface). A heating tube 30 has a distal cylindrical portion 35 corresponding to the inside cylindrical portion 21 and a proximal cylindrical portion 36 corresponding to the outside cylindrical portion 22. The heating tube 30 is inserted and positioned in the insertion hole with the distal cylindrical portion 35 positioned at the inner cylindrical portion 21 and the proximal cylindrical portion 36 positioned at the outside cylindrical portion 22. A filling material 60 is filled between the heating tube 30 and the insertion hole 20.

Provided is a molten metal holding furnace with heat dissipation and insulating properties. An insertion hole 20 of a molten metal holding furnace 10 has an inside cylindrical portion (tapered surface) 21 and an outside cylindrical portion 22 (cylindrical surface). A heating tube 30 has a distal cylindrical portion 35 corresponding to the inside cylindrical portion 21 and a proximal cylindrical portion 36 corresponding to the outside cylindrical portion 22. The heating tube 30 is inserted and positioned in the insertion hole with the distal cylindrical portion 35 positioned at the inner cylindrical portion 21 and the proximal cylindrical portion 36 positioned at the outside cylindrical portion 22. A filling material 60 is filled between the heating tube 30 and the insertion hole 20.

A metallurgical container (1) includes an outer wall (2), at least one connection element (4) for an electrode which is to be connected and/or a support element which is to be connected, and at least one transponder (3) which is surrounded by a protective housing (6) and can be read wirelessly. The transponder (3) is at a distance from the outer wall (2) on the container (1).