Method for the aluminothermic welding of rails, involving the steps of: triggering an aluminothermic reaction in a crucible, pouring the metal resulting from said reaction into the mold so as to fill the molding cavity from the rail flange, after filling the cavity, triggering a second aluminothermic reaction above the rail head, and pouring the metal resulting from said reaction into the cavity in the region of the rail head. The mold used in the method is designed to fit over the ends of two rails to form a molding cavity comprising a crucible positioned above the rail head region so that it can be fed with molten metal of the cavity via a secondary passage.

Disclosed herein is a nickel-titanium alloy comprising nickel, titanium, and at least one rare earth element. The nickel-titanium alloy comprises from about 34 at. % to about 60 at. % nickel, from about 34 at. % to about 60 at. % titanium, and from about 0.1 at. % to about 15 at. % at least one rare earth element. The nickel-titanium alloy may further include one or more additional alloying elements. In addition to radiopacity, the nickel-titanium alloy preferably exhibits superelastic or shape memory behavior. Medical devices comprising the nickel-titanium alloy and a method of making them are also disclosed.

A method of forming an electrode includes casting a molten metal in a mold to form an electrode with a header portion and a blade portion. The blade portion of the electrode is then rolled after it has been cast. The blade portion may be rolled into at least two different thicknesses. In one embodiment the metal is lead or lead alloy and the method relates to the forming of a lead or lead alloy anode.