Described herein is a method of producing an alloy. The method includes pouring a stream of molten mixture of component elements of the alloy, separating the stream into discrete pieces, solidifying the discrete pieces by cooling before the discrete pieces contact any liquid or solid. Also described herein is another method of producing an alloy. This method includes pouring and solidifying a stream of molten mixture of component elements of the alloy into a rod or pulling a rod from a molten mixture of component elements of the alloy, before the rod contacts any liquid or solid, separating the rod into discrete pieces. An apparatus suitable for carrying out the methods above can include a container from which the molten stream is poured or the solid rod extends, one or more coil, conductive plates, a laser source, or an electron beam source arranged around the molten stream or the solid rod and configured to separate the molten stream or the solid rod into discrete pieces.

A tantalum or tantalum alloy which contains pure or substantially pure tantalum and at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Mo, W and Re to form a tantalum alloy that is resistant to aqueous corrosion. The invention also relates to the process of preparing the tantalum alloy.

A tantalum or tantalum alloy which contains pure or substantially pure tantalum and at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Mo, W and Re to form a tantalum alloy that is resistant to aqueous corrosion. The invention also relates to the process of preparing the tantalum alloy.

A device to generate and direct electric heat 10 for use over risers, drains, pathways and pour cups during solidification in which less than 2% plasma is utilized, comprising an outer shell 20 having one open heat delivery end 25, at least one lip 30 located at the open end 25, one closed end 35, at least one electric heating element 80 affixed within the closed 35 end and refractory material 60 surrounding the electric heating element 80. A method, employing the device 10, to improve the properties of cast alloys which comprises the heating and blanketing of a molten cast surface with an atmosphere of less than 2% plasma during solidification, the atmosphere of less than 2% plasma thereby controlling temperature during the solidification and shielding the molten cast surface from the affects of oxidation.

The present invention relates to new compositions of matter, particularly metals and alloys, and methods of making such compositions. The new compositions of matter exhibit long-range ordering and unique electronic character.

The present invention relates to new compositions of matter, particularly metals and alloys, and methods of making such compositions. The new compositions of matter exhibit long-range ordering and unique electronic character.

A method of purifying erbium is provided to produce a high-purity erbium having a purity of 5N or higher excluding rare earth elements and gas components, and containing Al, Fe, Cu, and Ta each in an amount of 1 wtppm or less, W in an amount of 10 wtppm or less, carbon in an amount of 150 wtppm or less, alkali metals and alkali earth metals each in an amount of 1 wtppm or less, other transition metal elements in a total amount of 10 wtppm or less, and U and Th as radioactive elements each in an amount of 10 wtppb or less. Erbium has a high vapor pressure and is difficult to refine in a molten state. The method provides technology for efficiently and stably providing high-purity erbium, a sputtering target made of high-purity erbium, and a metal gate film having high-purity erbium as a main component thereof.

A nanoheterostructure includes a first inorganic component and a second inorganic component one of which is a matrix, and the other of which is three-dimensionally and periodically arranged in the matrix, and has a three-dimensional periodic structure whose average value of one unit length of a repeated structure is 1 nm to 100 nm.

A nanoheterostructure includes a first inorganic component and a second inorganic component one of which is a matrix, and the other of which is three-dimensionally and periodically arranged in the matrix, and has a three-dimensional periodic structure whose average value of one unit length of a repeated structure is 1 nm to 100 nm.

Excessive evaporation of powder is prevented. A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes an electron gun that generates an electron beam; a primary main deflector that deflects the electron beam one- or two-dimensionally; at least one lens that is provided between the electron gun and the primary main deflector and focuses the electron beam; a sub-deflector that is provided between the electron gun and the primary main deflector, deflects the electron beam one- or two-dimensionally, and has a deflection area smaller than the deflection area of the primary main deflector and the scanning speed higher than a scanning speed of the primary main deflector; and a controller that controls deflection directions and the scanning speeds of the primary main deflector and the sub-deflector. The primary main deflector moves the deflection area of the sub-deflector, and the sub-deflector performs multiple scanning and irradiation of small regions, in which scanning and irradiation the small regions are each included in the deflection area and scanned and irradiated with the electron beam for a predetermined number of times.