A method for producing long metal products includes the steps of receiving long intermediate products traveling on respective continuous casting lines, to an exit area, and subsequently introducing products from the exit area into a production plant having known layout parameters; the production plant has a rolling mill for rolling the products; interconnected production lines between the exit area of the casting machine and the rolling mill, the production lines define production paths or routes; and a first and a second heating devices. The method associates a mathematical model to the production plant for dynamically calculating a reference value, or Global Heating Cost Index, correlated to heating devices; automatically determining for the intermediate products the production path or route that minimizes the reference value, or Global Heating Cost Index; and eventually automatically routing each of the products along the determined production path which minimizes the reference value, or Global Heating Cost Index.

Disclosed herein are structures comprising a titanium, zirconium, or hafnium powder particle with titanium carbide, zirconium carbide, or hafnium carbide (respectively) nano-whiskers grown directly from and anchored to the powder particle. Also disclosed are methods for fabrication of such structures, involving heating the powder particles and exposing the particles to an organic gas.

Disclosed herein are structures comprising a titanium, zirconium, or hafnium powder particle with titanium carbide, zirconium carbide, or hafnium carbide (respectively) nano-whiskers grown directly from and anchored to the powder particle. Also disclosed are methods for fabrication of such structures, involving heating the powder particles and exposing the particles to an organic gas.

According to one aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for manufacturing transition structures including fiber threads embedded within a metal component. The system may include a supply of base sheet metal. The system may include a conveyor supported on a plurality of rollers and configured to move the base sheet metal in a production direction. The system may include a plurality of stages arranged in the production direction. Each stage may include a channel forming device configured to form a channel in the base sheet metal, a fiber inserting device configured to insert a portion of a fiber material into the channel, and one or more ultrasonic welders configured to consolidate a layer of metal foil over the fiber. The disclosure includes methods of using the system to produce transition structures and reinforced components.

According to one aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for manufacturing transition structures including fiber threads embedded within a metal component. The system may include a supply of base sheet metal. The system may include a conveyor supported on a plurality of rollers and configured to move the base sheet metal in a production direction. The system may include a plurality of stages arranged in the production direction. Each stage may include a channel forming device configured to form a channel in the base sheet metal, a fiber inserting device configured to insert a portion of a fiber material into the channel, and one or more ultrasonic welders configured to consolidate a layer of metal foil over the fiber. The disclosure includes methods of using the system to produce transition structures and reinforced components.

According to one aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for manufacturing transition structures including fiber threads embedded within a metal component. The system may include a supply of base sheet metal. The system may include a conveyor supported on a plurality of rollers and configured to move the base sheet metal in a production direction. The system may include a plurality of stages arranged in the production direction. Each stage may include a channel forming device configured to form a channel in the base sheet metal, a fiber inserting device configured to insert a portion of a fiber material into the channel, and one or more ultrasonic welders configured to consolidate a layer of metal foil over the fiber. The disclosure includes methods of using the system to produce transition structures and reinforced components.

Disclosed herein are structures comprising a titanium, zirconium, or hafnium powder particle with titanium carbide, zirconium carbide, or hafnium carbide (respectively) nano-whiskers grown directly from and anchored to the powder particle. Also disclosed are methods for fabrication of such structures, involving heating the powder particles and exposing the particles to an organic gas.

Disclosed herein are structures comprising a titanium, zirconium, or hafnium powder particle with titanium carbide, zirconium carbide, or hafnium carbide (respectively) nano-whiskers grown directly from and anchored to the powder particle. Also disclosed are methods for fabrication of such structures, involving heating the powder particles and exposing the particles to an organic gas.

A heterogeneous composition is disclosed, including an alloy mixture and a ceramic additive. The alloy mixture includes a first alloy having a first melting point of at least a first threshold temperature, and a second alloy having a second melting point of less than a second threshold temperature. The second threshold temperature is lower than the first threshold temperature. The first alloy, the second alloy, and the ceramic additive are intermixed with one another as distinct phases. An article is disclosed including a first portion including a material composition, and a second portion including the heterogeneous composition. A method for forming the article is disclosing, including applying the second portion to the first portion.

A heterogeneous composition is disclosed, including an alloy mixture and a ceramic additive. The alloy mixture includes a first alloy having a first melting point of at least a first threshold temperature, and a second alloy having a second melting point of less than a second threshold temperature. The second threshold temperature is lower than the first threshold temperature. The first alloy, the second alloy, and the ceramic additive are intermixed with one another as distinct phases. An article is disclosed including a first portion including a material composition, and a second portion including the heterogeneous composition. A method for forming the article is disclosing, including applying the second portion to the first portion.