A biomedical device includes a zinc-based material including a matrix including zinc, and nanostructures dispersed in the matrix. Embodiments of this disclosure are directed to zinc (Zn)-based materials including dispersed nanostructures for biomedical applications and devices, such as bioresorbable vascular stents, bioresorbable ureteral stents, endoluminal springs for distraction enterogenesis, biodegradable bone implants with tunable modulus, guided bone generation membranes, bioresorbable dental membranes, and other biomedical implants, as well as other functional applications, such as biodegradable electronics and sensors.

An apparatus for countergravity casting a metallic material, has: a crucible for holding melted metallic material; a casting chamber for containing a mold; a fill tube capable of extending into the crucible to communicate melted metallic material to the casting chamber; and a gas source coupled to a headspace of the melting vessel to allow the gas source to pressurize the headspace to establish a pressure differential to force the melted metallic material upwardly through the fill tube into the mold. Extraneous sulfur is prevented from entering the molten metal from the surrounding environment.

An apparatus for countergravity casting a metallic material, has: a crucible for holding melted metallic material; a casting chamber for containing a mold; a fill tube capable of extending into the crucible to communicate melted metallic material to the casting chamber; and a gas source coupled to a headspace of the melting vessel to allow the gas source to pressurize the headspace to establish a pressure differential to force the melted metallic material upwardly through the fill tube into the mold. Extraneous sulfur is prevented from entering the molten metal from the surrounding environment.

An apparatus for the die casting in the semisolid state of objects made of brass, bronze, alloys of aluminum, magnesium and light alloys and the like, includes an upper die part adapted to be mated with a lower die part, the mating between the upper die part and the lower die part forming a casting cavity, a furnace being arranged below the lower die part and being provided with a duct for feeding liquid metal which connects to the casting cavity. The upper die part is provided with a cavity in which a forging piston can move freely, the piston accommodating internally a flow control plunger, and having, between the upper die part and the lower die part, circumferentially around the part to be cast, a vacuum channel connected to the casting cavity by at least one venting channel.

An apparatus for the die casting in the semisolid state of objects made of brass, bronze, alloys of aluminum, magnesium and light alloys and the like, includes an upper die part adapted to be mated with a lower die part, the mating between the upper die part and the lower die part forming a casting cavity, a furnace being arranged below the lower die part and being provided with a duct for feeding liquid metal which connects to the casting cavity. The upper die part is provided with a cavity in which a forging piston can move freely, the piston accommodating internally a flow control plunger, and having, between the upper die part and the lower die part, circumferentially around the part to be cast, a vacuum channel connected to the casting cavity by at least one venting channel.

A casting mold is provided with a cavity portion and an overflow portion, and the overflow portion is connected to a gas flow path (suction path). A valve (an on-off valve, a shut-off valve) is provided between the gas flow path and the overflow portion. A heating method for a casting mold includes a step of setting the pressure in the cavity portion to a second pressure by sucking gas in the overflow portion and in the cavity portion while the valve is kept open for a second time period shorter than a first time period during casting. The heating method further includes a step of heating the casting mold by supplying molten metal into the cavity portion set at the second pressure, and solidifying the molten metal.

A casting mold is provided with a cavity portion and an overflow portion, and the overflow portion is connected to a gas flow path (suction path). A valve (an on-off valve, a shut-off valve) is provided between the gas flow path and the overflow portion. A heating method for a casting mold includes a step of setting the pressure in the cavity portion to a second pressure by sucking gas in the overflow portion and in the cavity portion while the valve is kept open for a second time period shorter than a first time period during casting. The heating method further includes a step of heating the casting mold by supplying molten metal into the cavity portion set at the second pressure, and solidifying the molten metal.

According to a casting method, a molten metal is sustained at a sustain position between a casting and the next casting, and the molten metal flow is divided from one pouring gate (44) to a plurality of sprue runners (46 and 47) in the casting. The sprue runners (46 and 47) are branched by a V-shaped portion (45) in a V-shape, and the sustain position of the molten metal is set above (any one of P1, P2 and P4) the V-shaped portion (45). The V-shaped portion (45) is filled with the molten metal while a repeated casting is carried out.

According to a casting method, a molten metal is sustained at a sustain position between a casting and the next casting, and the molten metal flow is divided from one pouring gate (44) to a plurality of sprue runners (46 and 47) in the casting. The sprue runners (46 and 47) are branched by a V-shaped portion (45) in a V-shape, and the sustain position of the molten metal is set above (any one of P1, P2 and P4) the V-shaped portion (45). The V-shaped portion (45) is filled with the molten metal while a repeated casting is carried out.

A cap member is used in a shut-off valve including a valve head in which a through hole is formed, the cap member including: a cap member main body screwed into the through hole; a first engaging portion for engaging with a first tool for screwing the cap member main body into the valve head; a second engaging portion formed inside the cap member main body to engage with a second tool for unscrewing the cap member main body from the valve head; and a wall portion covering the second engaging portion so that the second engaging portion is not exposed when the cap member is viewed from the first engaging portion toward the second engaging portion.