A machine for forming metal bars, in particular for producing ingots made of precious metal such as gold, silver, precious alloys, as well as other pure metals or different alloys, in the form of solid metal powder, grits or swarf of various sizes, having an ingot mold and a cover for closing the ingot mold when filled, the ingot mold has a dimension in height such that the cover passes from a first position to a second position when the volume occupied by the mass of metal that fills the ingot mold reduces gradually up to one third of the initial solid volume. In the first position the cover rests on the metal that fills the ingot mold and remains raised with respect to an abutting edge of the ingot mold, in such a manner that the bottom of the cover compresses and thus uniformly compacts the powders, the grits or the swarf so that, during the melting step, in the second position, the cover lowers progressively as the metal melts, until it rests on the abutting edge of the ingot mold, thus hermetically closing the ingot mold.

A method of casting a metal alloy ingot, including the following steps: providing a one side open-ended mould including a plurality of sides and a bottom plate defining a mould cavity with a mould opening, the open-ended mould being pivotable around a horizontal rotational axis between a position so that the mould opening points upwards and a position so that the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards; positioning the open-ended mould such that the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards; providing a casting container with an upwardly positioned aperture; filling the casting container with molten metal for one casting operation; coupling the casting container to the open-ended mould so that the casting container is located below the mould while the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards; rotating the open-ended mould together with the casting container around the horizontal rotational axis for approximately 90 to 180 from a position whereby the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards to a position whereby the mould opening points upwards such that the molten metal is conveyed through the mould opening into the open-ended mould until reaching a desired thickness, whereby the molten metal in the open-ended mould is cooled directionally through its thickness where the solidification front remains substantially monoaxial.

Method for producing eutectic copper-iron alloy in which crystal grain fragments containing iron are dispersed in a copper matrix, includes: a charging step charging a first melting furnace (MF) and second MF respectively with electrolytic-copper and pure iron grain fragments; molten copper (MC) deoxidizing step heating electrolytic-copper to at least melting-point in the first MF, melting and deoxidizing the electrolytic-copper; molten iron (MI) deoxidizing step heating pure iron to at least melting-point in the second MF, melting and deoxidizing pure iron; MI transfer step increasing the MI temperature generated in the second MF; transferring the MI to a primary reaction furnace; MC transfer step increasing the MC temperature in the first MF to at least the iron melting-point; transferring the MC to the primary reaction furnace; and a reaction step causing a crystallization reaction between copper in the MC and iron in the MI in the primary reaction furnace.

A La-element micro-alloyed AlCrFeNiTi bulk alloy with high corrosion resistance and wear resistance and a preparation method therefor and applications thereof are provided. The alloy includes the following chemical components in corresponding percentages: 2.05 wt % to 2.15 wt % of Al, 20.50 wt % to 20.65 wt % of Cr, 34.50 wt % to 35.54 wt % of Ni, 18.80 wt % to 19.16 wt % of Ti, 1.05 wt % to 1.15 wt % of La, and the balance of Fe and inevitable impurities, wherein the chemical components need to meet the following three relations at the same time: (1) 18.57?Fe/La?22.00; (2) 6.47?Fe/(La+Al)?7.45; and (3) 1.05?Fe/(La+Ti)?1.16. Compared with AISI 310S stainless steel, the alloy is improved by 280% to 290% in hardness, reduced by 4% to 7% in friction coefficient, and reduced by 17% to 34% in wear amount, increased by 73% to 77% in self-corrosion potential, and decreased by 96% in corrosion current density on average.

A La-element micro-alloyed AlCrFeNiTi bulk alloy with high corrosion resistance and wear resistance and a preparation method therefor and applications thereof are provided. The alloy includes the following chemical components in corresponding percentages: 2.05 wt % to 2.15 wt % of Al, 20.50 wt % to 20.65 wt % of Cr, 34.50 wt % to 35.54 wt % of Ni, 18.80 wt % to 19.16 wt % of Ti, 1.05 wt % to 1.15 wt % of La, and the balance of Fe and inevitable impurities, wherein the chemical components need to meet the following three relations at the same time: (1) 18.57?Fe/La?22.00; (2) 6.47?Fe/(La+Al)?7.45; and (3) 1.05?Fe/(La+Ti)?1.16. Compared with AISI 310S stainless steel, the alloy is improved by 280% to 290% in hardness, reduced by 4% to 7% in friction coefficient, and reduced by 17% to 34% in wear amount, increased by 73% to 77% in self-corrosion potential, and decreased by 96% in corrosion current density on average.

A machine for forming metal bars, in particular for producing ingots made of precious metal such as gold, silver, precious alloys, as well as other pure metals or different alloys, in the form of solid metal powder, grits or swarf of various sizes, having an ingot mould and a cover for closing the ingot mould when filled, the ingot mould has a dimension in height such that the cover passes from a first position to a second position when the volume occupied by the mass of metal that fills the ingot mould reduces gradually up to one third of the initial solid volume. In the first position the cover rests on the metal that fills the ingot mold and remains raised with respect to an abutting edge of the ingot mould, in such a manner that the bottom of the cover compresses and thus uniformly compacts the powders, the grits or the swarf so that, during the melting step, in the second position, the cover lowers progressively as the metal melts, until it rests on the abutting edge of the ingot mold, thus hermetically closing the ingot mould.

A machine for forming metal bars, in particular for producing ingots made of precious metal such as gold, silver, precious alloys, as well as other pure metals or different alloys, in the form of solid metal powder, grits or swarf of various sizes, having an ingot mould and a cover for closing the ingot mould when filled, the ingot mould has a dimension in height such that the cover passes from a first position to a second position when the volume occupied by the mass of metal that fills the ingot mould reduces gradually up to one third of the initial solid volume. In the first position the cover rests on the metal that fills the ingot mold and remains raised with respect to an abutting edge of the ingot mould, in such a manner that the bottom of the cover compresses and thus uniformly compacts the powders, the grits or the swarf so that, during the melting step, in the second position, the cover lowers progressively as the metal melts, until it rests on the abutting edge of the ingot mold, thus hermetically closing the ingot mould.

Systems and methods may utilize magnetic rotors to heat molten metal in the corner regions of a mold during casting (e.g., casting of an ingot, billet, or slab). The magnetic rotors are positioned adjacent to the corners of the mold and heat the molten metal in the corner region to increase the temperature of the molten metal adjacent the corners. The increased temperature of the molten metal in the mold corners can prevent intermetallics from forming in the molten metal or otherwise reduce such formation.

Systems and methods may utilize magnetic rotors to heat molten metal in the corner regions of a mold during casting (e.g., casting of an ingot, billet, or slab). The magnetic rotors are positioned adjacent to the corners of the mold and heat the molten metal in the corner region to increase the temperature of the molten metal adjacent the corners. The increased temperature of the molten metal in the mold corners can prevent intermetallics from forming in the molten metal or otherwise reduce such formation.

Provided herein is a system, apparatus, and method for producing refractory products, and more particularly, to producing heated refractories, passive refractories, transition plates, moldable refractories, and accessories such as heated spouts, heated pins, thimbles, and dams. A heated refractory channel as disclosed herein may include a working surface to contain molten metal within the channel; a core adjacent to the working surface; one or more heating elements disposed within the core; and insulation, where the core is disposed between the working surface and the insulation. The one or more heating elements may be molded into the core. The heating elements may be electrical resistance heating elements.