Provided is a press forming apparatus for a semi-solid metal material, including: a slide caused to make a reciprocating linear motion; a sub-slide mounted so as to be movable relatively to the slide; a fluid pressure mechanism interposed between the slide and the sub-slide, which is capable of moving the sub-slide relatively to the slide by fluid pressure; an upper die mounted to the sub-slide; and a lower die. The press forming apparatus is configured to press-form the material while applying predetermined pressure to the material for a predetermined period by bringing, along with descent action of the slide, the upper die into contact with the material fed into the lower die, then stopping the slide at a predetermined position, and moving the upper die mounted to the sub-slide relatively to the slide by the fluid pressure mechanism under a state in which the slide is stopped.

A method for preparing semisolid slurry. The method is achieved using a device for preparing semisolid slurry. The device includes a slurry vessel and a mechanical stirring rod. The mechanical stirring rod includes a first end and a second end extending into the slurry vessel. The method includes: S1. putting a molten alloy having a first preset temperature into the slurry vessel; S2. cooling the molten alloy to a second preset temperature, positioning the second end of the mechanical stirring rod to be 5-25 mm higher than the bottom wall of the slurry vessel, rotating the mechanical stirring rod and injecting a cooling medium into the mechanical stirring rod; and S3: allowing the temperature of the molten alloy to be 10-90 degrees centigrade lower than the liquidus temperature of the molten alloy, stopping stirring and cooling, to yield a semisolid slurry.

A method for continuous semisolid die casting. The method is achieved using an apparatus for continuous semisolid die casting. The apparatus includes: a first preparation device for producing a nucleating agent, a second preparation device for producing semisolid slurry, a semisolid die casting machine, and a central controller. The second preparation device includes a slurry generator. The method includes: controlling, by the central controller, the first preparation device to produce a solid nucleating agent, and delivering the solid nucleating agent to the slurry generator of the second preparation device; controlling, by the central controller, the second preparation device to produce semisolid slurry, and delivering the semisolid slurry to the semisolid die casting machine; and controlling, by the central controller, the semisolid die casting machine to perform semisolid die casting.

Provided is a press forming method for a semi-solid metal material, including: manufacturing a semi-solid metal material in a container having an upward opening by injecting molten metal into the container, and cooling the molten metal while stirring the molten metal; inverting the container and storing the semi-solid metal material in a temporary storage space; discharging a liquid phase part from the semi-solid metal material through the inverting; and pressing the semi-solid metal material by feeding the semi-solid metal material, from which the liquid phase part is discharged, into dies of a pressing machine.

A cutting tool comprising a blade portion having a sharpened edge area and a body portion, wherein the body portion comprises a casted metal or a ceramic, wherein the sharpened edge area comprises at least 50% by volume of amorphous alloy material, the amorphous alloy material being limited to the sharpened edge area, and a method of forming the cutting tool having a blade portion having a sharpened edge and a body portion. The body portion is formed from a metal or a ceramic and the sharpened edge includes an amorphous alloy material thereon, is described. The sharpened edge area may have at least 50% by volume of amorphous alloy material. The amorphous alloy may be chromium-based, iron-based, or zirconium-based. A thickness of the amorphous alloy material on the sharpened edge may be between approximately 2 to 5 microns.

A method for producing a semisolid metal slurry, having the steps of providing at least two stirring devices, each having a first end and an opposite second end defining a central axis therebetween, wherein onto each first end a cast metal piece is attached; inserting the first end of each of the at least two stirring devices into a liquid metal bath such that each cast metal piece is submerged in the liquid metal bath; after insertion of the at least two stirring devices into the liquid metal bath, simultaneously rotating the at least two stirring devices with the attached cast metal piece around their respective central axis, and thereby rotating the cast metal pieces in the liquid metal bath; wherein the rotation is continued at least until a majority of the cast metal pieces are molten, such that a semisolid metal slurry is produced.

Provided are: a semi-solidified slurry production method capable of obtaining a semi-solidified slurry having small variation of the solid phase ratio at each part, a molded body production method capable of reducing the variation of the size of crystal grains, and a molded body. The semi-solidified slurry production method comprises: a preparation step of placing a molten metal into a bottomed container; and a stirring step of stirring the molten metal by performing reciprocating movement of a rod placed in the molten metal in a length direction of the rod until a solid phase ratio at any portion of the molten metal in the container reaches 80% or more.

A process for preparing molten metals for casting at a low to zero superheat temperature involves the steps of placing a heat extracting probe into the melt and at the same time vigorous convection is applied to assure nearly uniform cooling of the melt. Then, the heat extraction probe is rapidly removed when a low or zero superheat temperature is reached. Finally, the rapidly cooled melt is quickly transferred to a mold for casting into parts or a shot sleeve for injection into a die cavity. The process may be carried out so as that small amounts of solid form in part of the melt. In this case, a key aspect of the invention is to carry out the process rapidly in order to maintain the particles in a fine, dispersed state that will not impede flow and will improve the quality of the metal parts produced. Cost of the metal parts produced is lowered due to longer die life and shorter cycle time.

A method and apparatus for producing solid alloy components from its liquid state are provided. The molten alloy is rapidly cooled using a chill to temperatures below the thermosolutal transition temperature of the alloy. Finite-amplitude acoustic vibration is applied on the chill to shake off dendrites that form on the chill surface, to stir the slurry containing the fragments of dendrites, and to shake off slurry material that sticks on the surface of the chill as the chill is separating from the slurry. The slurry is then immediately poured into a chamber of a forming machine or a mold cavity shaped into solid components.

An production apparatus of a semi-solidified metal has a vessel and a cooling device. The vessel into which a liquid-state metal material M is poured has a hollow member which is opened in up and down directions, and a bottom member which can close the lower opening of the hollow member and can be separated from the hollow member. The cooling device can cool the bottom member more than the hollow member.