A counter-gravity casting method and apparatus in which the mold is held stationary and the crucible is moved generally laterally from a melt chamber to a fill chamber positioned below the mold with respect to gravity. A casting chamber is located generally above the fill chamber with respect to gravity. The method and apparatus utilize separate chambers for melting and casting in which the pressure in each chamber can be varied relative to each other in order to introduce molten metal into the mold.

A counter-gravity casting method and apparatus in which the mold is held stationary and the crucible is moved generally laterally from a melt chamber to a fill chamber positioned below the mold with respect to gravity. A casting chamber is located generally above the fill chamber with respect to gravity. The method and apparatus utilize separate chambers for melting and casting in which the pressure in each chamber can be varied relative to each other in order to introduce molten metal into the mold.

An amorphous alloy and a method for preparing the amorphous alloy are provided. The amorphous alloy is represented by a formula of (Zr,Hf).sub.aM.sub.bN.sub.cBe.sub.d. M contains at least one element selected from transition group elements. N contains at least one selected from Al and Ti. And 40a70, 10b40, 5c20, 5d25, and a+b+c+d=100. The ratio of an atomic percentage of Hf to an atomic percentage of Zr is in a range of about 0.01 to about 5.

An amorphous alloy and a method for preparing the amorphous alloy are provided. The amorphous alloy is represented by a formula of (Zr,Hf).sub.aM.sub.bN.sub.cBe.sub.d. M contains at least one element selected from transition group elements. N contains at least one selected from Al and Ti. And 40a70, 10b40, 5c20, 5d25, and a+b+c+d=100. The ratio of an atomic percentage of Hf to an atomic percentage of Zr is in a range of about 0.01 to about 5.

A casting system includes a casting surface; a rim area disposed on the casting surface or associated therewith; a heat resistant impermeable diaphragm having an edge area. The diaphragm covers a portion of the casting mold when it is positioned on the surface so as to form a space defined by at least a base constituted by the surface, and at least a casting face constituted, at least partially, by the diaphragm; a sealing arrangement for sealingly engaging the rim and edge areas, thereby sealing the space; an outlet for withdrawing gas from the space; a heat resistance coefficient of the diaphragm is such that it can melt when coming in contact with the molten material. The diaphragm covers an area larger than that through which molten material is case so that, when the space is sealed, vacuum application causes the diaphragm to adhere to a portion of the mold.

A casting system includes a casting surface; a rim area disposed on the casting surface or associated therewith; a heat resistant impermeable diaphragm having an edge area. The diaphragm covers a portion of the casting mold when it is positioned on the surface so as to form a space defined by at least a base constituted by the surface, and at least a casting face constituted, at least partially, by the diaphragm; a sealing arrangement for sealingly engaging the rim and edge areas, thereby sealing the space; an outlet for withdrawing gas from the space; a heat resistance coefficient of the diaphragm is such that it can melt when coming in contact with the molten material. The diaphragm covers an area larger than that through which molten material is case so that, when the space is sealed, vacuum application causes the diaphragm to adhere to a portion of the mold.

A low-pressure casting apparatus includes a core that together with a mold forms a cavity and a reduced-pressure dryer configured to dry the core under reduced pressure. The core is disposed in the mold, the molded is closed, the core is dried under reduced pressure, and thereafter the cavity is filled with molten metal.

A low-pressure casting apparatus includes a core that together with a mold forms a cavity and a reduced-pressure dryer configured to dry the core under reduced pressure. The core is disposed in the mold, the molded is closed, the core is dried under reduced pressure, and thereafter the cavity is filled with molten metal.

A method for manufacturing a photopolymerizable slurry comprises the steps of: providing a plurality of particles of an inorganic salt in the form of a powder; wherein at atmospheric pressure the inorganic salt has a melting point of above 250? C.; and wherein at room temperature the inorganic salt has a solubility in water above 9% w/w; providing at least one radiation curable monomer; the at least one radiation curable monomer being in the liquid phase; and adding the inorganic salt particles to the liquid composition and mixing the inorganic salt particles with the liquid composition; obtaining a photopolymerizable slurry, selectively curing the photopolymerizable slurry to obtain a green body article; debinding the green body article to obtain a binderless body article; and sintering the binderless body article to obtain a sintered ceramic article; providing a first template mold (1); wherein the first template mold comprises the sintered ceramic article; providing a second mold (2, 2, 2); wherein the second mold comprises a compartment into which said first template mold can be placed; mounting the first template mold into the compartment of the second mold, thereby obtaining an operative mold (1, 2, 2, 2); casting a fluid casting material (3, 3, 3) into said operative mold to obtain after solidification of said casting material an infiltrated template mold (8) comprising a solid article (9) that is at least partially located within the first template mold (1); and separating said solid article from the first template mold by dissolving the sintered ceramic article of the first template mold with a suitable solvent, for example water.

A method for manufacturing a photopolymerizable slurry comprises the steps of: providing a plurality of particles of an inorganic salt in the form of a powder; wherein at atmospheric pressure the inorganic salt has a melting point of above 250? C.; and wherein at room temperature the inorganic salt has a solubility in water above 9% w/w; providing at least one radiation curable monomer; the at least one radiation curable monomer being in the liquid phase; and adding the inorganic salt particles to the liquid composition and mixing the inorganic salt particles with the liquid composition; obtaining a photopolymerizable slurry, selectively curing the photopolymerizable slurry to obtain a green body article; debinding the green body article to obtain a binderless body article; and sintering the binderless body article to obtain a sintered ceramic article; providing a first template mold (1); wherein the first template mold comprises the sintered ceramic article; providing a second mold (2, 2, 2); wherein the second mold comprises a compartment into which said first template mold can be placed; mounting the first template mold into the compartment of the second mold, thereby obtaining an operative mold (1, 2, 2, 2); casting a fluid casting material (3, 3, 3) into said operative mold to obtain after solidification of said casting material an infiltrated template mold (8) comprising a solid article (9) that is at least partially located within the first template mold (1); and separating said solid article from the first template mold by dissolving the sintered ceramic article of the first template mold with a suitable solvent, for example water.