Provided is a method for filling a stem-side hollow area of an engine valve with metallic sodium. The method includes injecting melted metallic sodium into a cylinder having a larger diameter than an inner diameter of the hollow area of the engine valve, forming a solidified metallic sodium rod having a substantially uniform structure in the cylinder, inserting the metallic sodium into the hollow area of the engine valve through a nozzle having a small diameter, and sealing the engine valve.

A method for forming a vehicular brake rotor involving loading a shaped metal substrate with a mixture of metal alloying components and ceramic particles in a dieheating the contents of the die while applying pressure to melt at least one of the metal components of the alloying mixture whereby to densify the contents of the die and form a ceramic particle-containing metal matrix composite coating on the metallic substrate; and cooling the resulting coated product.

A method for forming a vehicular brake rotor involving loading a shaped metal substrate with a mixture of metal alloying components and ceramic particles in a dieheating the contents of the die while applying pressure to melt at least one of the metal components of the alloying mixture whereby to densify the contents of the die and form a ceramic particle-containing metal matrix composite coating on the metallic substrate; and cooling the resulting coated product.

Some variations provide a metal matrix nanocomposite composition comprising metal-containing microparticles and nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are chemically and/or physically disposed on surfaces of the microparticles, and wherein the nanoparticles are consolidated in a three-dimensional architecture throughout the composition. The composition may serve as an ingot for producing a metal matrix nanocomposite. Other variations provide a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite comprising a metal-matrix phase and a reinforcement phase containing nanoparticles, wherein the nanocomposite contains a gradient in concentration of the nanoparticles. This nanocomposite may be or be converted into a master alloy. Other variations provide methods of making a metal matrix nanocomposite, methods of making a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite, and methods of making a master alloy metal matrix nanocomposite. The metal matrix nanocomposite may have a cast microstructure. The methods disclosed enable various loadings of nanoparticles in metal matrix nanocomposites with a wide variety of compositions.

A method for forming a vehicular brake rotor involving loading a shaped metal substrate with a mixture of metal alloying components and ceramic particles in a dieheating the contents of the die while applying pressure to melt at least one of the metal components of the alloying mixture whereby to densify the contents of the die and form a ceramic particle-containing metal matrix composite coating on the metallic substrate; and cooling the resulting coated product.

A method for forming a vehicular brake rotor involving loading a shaped metal substrate with a mixture of metal alloying components and ceramic particles in a dieheating the contents of the die while applying pressure to melt at least one of the metal components of the alloying mixture whereby to densify the contents of the die and form a ceramic particle-containing metal matrix composite coating on the metallic substrate; and cooling the resulting coated product.

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 bit for drilling a wellbore includes: a shank having a coupling formed at an upper end thereof; a body mounted to a lower end of the shank; and a cutting face forming a lower end of the bit. The cutting face includes: a blade protruding from the body; a cutter including: a substrate mounted in a pocket formed in the blade; and a cutting table made from a superhard material, mounted to the substrate, and having a non-planar working face with a cutting feature; and a cutter orienting system including: a keyway formed in the substrate and angularly located opposite from the cutting feature; and a key formed in or mounted to the pocket and engaged with the keyway.

A method for forming a vehicular brake rotor involving loading a shaped metal substrate with a mixture of metal alloying components and ceramic particles in a dieheating the contents of the die while applying pressure to melt at least one of the metal components of the alloying mixture whereby to densify the contents of the die and form a ceramic particle-containing metal matrix composite coating on the metallic substrate; and cooling the resulting coated product.