Provided are a stationary mold configured to form a portion of a bearing portion of a crankshaft and a portion of a crankcase, and a movable mold including a plurality of bore pins respectively defining cylinder bores of cylinders. The bore pins are arranged to correspond to a cylinder bank including the plurality of cylinders. The movable mold is matched with the stationary mold such that portions of outermost ones of the plurality of bore pins in a series direction are each inclined away from another one of the plurality of bore pins adjacent to the outermost bore pin in the series direction toward a distal end of the outermost bore pin, where the series direction represents a direction in which the plurality of bore pins are arranged.

A sliding member includes a base material and an alloy layer that includes Cu as a main component and Bi and having a sliding surface formed on a side opposite to the base material. The alloy layer has a first region and a second region. The first region is set to a region taking up 30% of the thickness of the alloy layer which is from an interface in contact with the base material toward the sliding surface. The second region is set to a region taking up 10% of the thickness of the alloy layer which is from the sliding surface toward the base material. A larger number of Bi phases having larger cross-sectional areas are distributed in an arbitrary observation cross section as Bi phases included in the second region compared to Bi phases included in the first region.

A sliding member includes a base material and an alloy layer that includes Cu as a main component and Bi and having a sliding surface formed on a side opposite to the base material. The alloy layer has a first region and a second region. The first region is set to a region taking up 30% of the thickness of the alloy layer which is from an interface in contact with the base material toward the sliding surface. The second region is set to a region taking up 10% of the thickness of the alloy layer which is from the sliding surface toward the base material. A larger number of Bi phases having larger cross-sectional areas are distributed in an arbitrary observation cross section as Bi phases included in the second region compared to Bi phases included in the first region.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cylinder liner for insert casting that can improve the joining strength between a cylinder liner and a cylinder block by reducing voids generated between the cylinder liner and the cylinder block. The above-described problem can be solved when the molten metal running index YI defined by the following Formula (1) is from 2.2 to 14.5.
Molten metal running index YI=[area ratio S.sub.t (%) of top portions of protrusions×molten metal infiltration volume V (mm.sup.3)/surface area A (mm.sup.2) of cylinder liner base]/average surface-to-surface distance P.sub.av between top portions of protrusions (mm)  (1).

An object of the present invention is to provide a cylinder liner for insert casting that can improve the joining strength between a cylinder liner and a cylinder block by reducing voids generated between the cylinder liner and the cylinder block. The above-described problem can be solved when the molten metal running index YI defined by the following Formula (1) is from 2.2 to 14.5.
Molten metal running index YI=[area ratio S.sub.t (%) of top portions of protrusions×molten metal infiltration volume V (mm.sup.3)/surface area A (mm.sup.2) of cylinder liner base]/average surface-to-surface distance P.sub.av between top portions of protrusions (mm)  (1).

Ceramic-metallic composites are disclosed along with the processes for their manufacture. The present invention improves high temperature strength of Al.sub.2O.sub.3—Al composites by displacing aluminum in the finished product with other substances that enhance the high temperature strength. Each process commences with a preform initially composed of at least 5% by weight silicon dioxide, and the finished product includes Al.sub.2O.sub.3, aluminum and another substance.

Ceramic-metallic composites are disclosed along with the processes for their manufacture. The present invention improves high temperature strength of Al.sub.2O.sub.3—Al composites by displacing aluminum in the finished product with other substances that enhance the high temperature strength. Each process commences with a preform initially composed of at least 5% by weight silicon dioxide, and the finished product includes Al.sub.2O.sub.3, aluminum and another substance.

A valve body having a ring of dissimilar material and a method of forming the valve body are described. The valve body includes an inlet, an outlet and a ring of dissimilar material. The method includes forming a valve core, splitting the valve core, placing a metal ring of dissimilar material between two pieces of the valve core, casting a valve body around the valve core, and fusing the metal ring to the valve body.

A valve body having a ring of dissimilar material and a method of forming the valve body are described. The valve body includes an inlet, an outlet and a ring of dissimilar material. The method includes forming a valve core, splitting the valve core, placing a metal ring of dissimilar material between two pieces of the valve core, casting a valve body around the valve core, and fusing the metal ring to the valve body.

Ceramic-metallic composites are disclosed along with the processes for their manufacture. The present invention improves high temperature strength of Al.sub.2O.sub.3—Al composites by displacing aluminum in the finished product with other substances that enhance the high temperature strength. Each process commences with a preform initially composed of at least 5% by weight silicon dioxide, and the finished product includes Al.sub.2O.sub.3, aluminum and another substance.