Disclosed are an aluminum alloy composition for die casting and a method of heat treating the same. The aluminum alloy composition contains precipitation of an MgZn-based strengthening phase through heat treatment to thus enhance strength thereof.

Methods of preparing improved metal hydride alloy materials are provided. The alloys include a mixture of at least four of vanadium, titanium, nickel, chromium, and iron. The alloy is processed by at least one of thermal and physical treatment to generate a refined microstructure exhibiting improved kinetics when used as electrodes in MH batteries (e.g., higher discharge current). The thermal treatment includes rapid cooling of the alloy at greater than 10.sup.4 K/s. The physical treatment includes mechanical pulverization of the alloy after cooling. The microstructure is a single phase (body centered cubic) with a heterogeneous composition including a plurality of primary regions having a lattice parameter selected from the range of 3.02 to 3.22 and a plurality of secondary regions having a lattice parameter selected from the range of 3.00 to 3.22 and at least one physical dimension having a maximum average value less than 1 m.

Methods of preparing improved metal hydride alloy materials are provided. The alloys include a mixture of at least four of vanadium, titanium, nickel, chromium, and iron. The alloy is processed by at least one of thermal and physical treatment to generate a refined microstructure exhibiting improved kinetics when used as electrodes in MH batteries (e.g., higher discharge current). The thermal treatment includes rapid cooling of the alloy at greater than 10.sup.4 K/s. The physical treatment includes mechanical pulverization of the alloy after cooling. The microstructure is a single phase (body centered cubic) with a heterogeneous composition including a plurality of primary regions having a lattice parameter selected from the range of 3.02 to 3.22 and a plurality of secondary regions having a lattice parameter selected from the range of 3.00 to 3.22 and at least one physical dimension having a maximum average value less than 1 m.

Various embodiments provide apparatus and methods for melting materials and for containing the molten materials within melt zone during melting. Exemplary apparatus may include a vessel configured to receive a material for melting therein; a load induction coil positioned adjacent to the vessel to melt the material therein; and a containment induction coil positioned in line with the load induction coil. The material in the vessel can be heated by operating the load induction coil at a first RF frequency to form a molten material. The containment induction coil can be operated at a second RF frequency to contain the molten material within the load induction coil. Once the desired temperature is achieved and maintained for the molten material, operation of the containment induction coil can be stopped and the molten material can be ejected from the vessel into a mold through an ejection path.

Various embodiments provide apparatus and methods for melting materials and for containing the molten materials within melt zone during melting. Exemplary apparatus may include a vessel configured to receive a material for melting therein; a load induction coil positioned adjacent to the vessel to melt the material therein; and a containment induction coil positioned in line with the load induction coil. The material in the vessel can be heated by operating the load induction coil at a first RF frequency to form a molten material. The containment induction coil can be operated at a second RF frequency to contain the molten material within the load induction coil. Once the desired temperature is achieved and maintained for the molten material, operation of the containment induction coil can be stopped and the molten material can be ejected from the vessel into a mold through an ejection path.

The present invention relates to a casting mold for a metal sheet by drawing molten metal into a mold cavity and cooling the molten metal, and the casting mold according to the present invention includes: a support portion at an upper side on which molten metal is disposed or a solid metal is placed and melted; a mold cavity at a lower side in which the metal sheet is formed as the molten metal is drawn from the support portion while filling the mold cavity and cooled; and a passageway through which the molten metal is drawn into the mold cavity from the support portion, in which the mold cavity includes a first surface at the upper side which communicates with the passageway, and a second surface at the lower side which faces the first surface, a plurality of suction portions for drawing the molten metal are formed in the second surface and extended downward from the second surface, the suction portions are connected to a vacuum source and configured to draw the molten metal by suctioning air from the mold cavity, and a blocking member, which is in contact with the second surface or the suction portions to prevent a leakage of the molten metal and allow an air flow, is disposed on the suction portions in the mold cavity.

A cast-iron casting, method for manufacturing a cast-iron casting, and equipment for manufacturing a cast-iron casting, which are capable of performing a plating or enameling treatment without defects on a surface of the cast-iron casting, regardless of its specifications, without decreasing productivity or increasing manufacturing costs. A mold is molded by decompressing molding sand, and a melt is poured into the mold. The inside of the mold is decompressed until the temperature of a casting formed by the melt falls to or below an A.sub.1 transformation point. The equipment includes: at least one mold; a frame feed device that moves the mold; at least one fixed suction device that decompresses the inside of the mold when stopped; at least one movable suction device that moves while decompressing the inside of the mold when the mold is moving; and a temperature sensor that measures the product surface temperature of the casting.

A cast-iron casting, method for manufacturing a cast-iron casting, and equipment for manufacturing a cast-iron casting, which are capable of performing a plating or enameling treatment without defects on a surface of the cast-iron casting, regardless of its specifications, without decreasing productivity or increasing manufacturing costs. A mold is molded by decompressing molding sand, and a melt is poured into the mold. The inside of the mold is decompressed until the temperature of a casting formed by the melt falls to or below an A.sub.1 transformation point. The equipment includes: at least one mold; a frame feed device that moves the mold; at least one fixed suction device that decompresses the inside of the mold when stopped; at least one movable suction device that moves while decompressing the inside of the mold when the mold is moving; and a temperature sensor that measures the product surface temperature of the casting.

A high creep-resistant equiaxed grain nickel-based superalloy. The high creep-resistant equiaxed grain nickel-based superalloy is characterized that the chemical compositions in weight ratios include Cr in 8.0 to 9.5 wt %, W in 9.5 to 10.5 wt %, Co in 9.5 to 10.5 wt %, Al in 5.0 to 6.0 wt %, Ti in 0.5 to 1.5 wt %, Mo in 0.5 to 1.0 wt %, Ta in 2.5 to 4.0 wt %, Hf in 1.0 to 2.0 wt %, Ir in 2.0 to 4.0 wt %, C in 0.1 to 0.2 wt %, B in 0.01 to 0.1 wt %, Zr in 0.01 to 0.10 wt %, and the remaining part formed by Ni and inevitable impurities.

A high creep-resistant equiaxed grain nickel-based superalloy. The high creep-resistant equiaxed grain nickel-based superalloy is characterized that the chemical compositions in weight ratios include Cr in 8.0 to 9.5 wt %, W in 9.5 to 10.5 wt %, Co in 9.5 to 10.5 wt %, Al in 5.0 to 6.0 wt %, Ti in 0.5 to 1.5 wt %, Mo in 0.5 to 1.0 wt %, Ta in 2.5 to 4.0 wt %, Hf in 1.0 to 2.0 wt %, Ir in 2.0 to 4.0 wt %, C in 0.1 to 0.2 wt %, B in 0.01 to 0.1 wt %, Zr in 0.01 to 0.10 wt %, and the remaining part formed by Ni and inevitable impurities.