A device to produce a part by molding a bulk metallic glass (BMG) includes a mold, a melting device to melt the BMG and a sectorized piston. The mold includes two rigid sections delimiting a molding cavity. The melting device includes a cold sectorized crucible or melting crucible, an inductor and a current generator to generate a high-frequency current to power the inductor. The melting crucible is arranged vertically having hollow sectors formed from an electrically conductive and non-magnetic material electrically insulated from one another. The inductor is in the form of a coil and surround the melting crucible to heat the content thereof. The sectorized piston has hollow sectors formed from the electrically conductive and non-magnetic material electrically insulated from one another, closing the melting crucible at one of the ends thereof.

A variable stiffness engineered degradable ball or seal having a degradable phase and a stiffener material. The variable stiffness engineered degradable ball or seal can optionally be in the form of a degradable diverter ball or sealing element which can be made neutrally buoyant.

A variable stiffness engineered degradable ball or seal having a degradable phase and a stiffener material. The variable stiffness engineered degradable ball or seal can optionally be in the form of a degradable diverter ball or sealing element which can be made neutrally buoyant.

A castable, moldable, and/or extrudable structure using a metallic primary alloy. One or more additives are added to the metallic primary alloy so that in situ galvanically-active reinforcement particles are formed in the melt or on cooling from the melt. The composite contains an optimal composition and morphology to achieve a specific galvanic corrosion rate in the entire composite. The in situ formed galvanically-active particles can be used to enhance mechanical properties of the composite, such as ductility and/or tensile strength. The final casting can also he enhanced by heat treatment, as well as deformation processing such as extrusion, forging, or rolling, to further improve the strength of the final composite over the as-cast material.

A castable, moldable, and/or extrudable structure using a metallic primary alloy. One or more additives are added to the metallic primary alloy so that in situ galvanically-active reinforcement particles are formed in the melt or on cooling from the melt. The composite contains an optimal composition and morphology to achieve a specific galvanic corrosion rate in the entire composite. The in situ formed galvanically-active particles can be used to enhance mechanical properties of the composite, such as ductility and/or tensile strength. The final casting can also he enhanced by heat treatment, as well as deformation processing such as extrusion, forging, or rolling, to further improve the strength of the final composite over the as-cast material.

A process for the manufacture of metal products includes the steps of providing a mold including a first portion made of an aggregate and a binder, delivering a molten metal into the mold, removing a first portion of the mold with a fluid and solidifying at least one targeted portion of the molten metal which will form the metal product with the fluid. A flow of fluid to the mold is stopped for a period of time. Subsequently, a remaining portion of the molten metal is solidified to form the metal product. The at least one targeted portion of the metal product has better mechanical properties than does a remaining portion of the metal product. A unitary, one-piece aluminum alloy component with differing mechanical properties is also disclosed.

A process for the manufacture of metal products includes the steps of providing a mold including a first portion made of an aggregate and a binder, delivering a molten metal into the mold, removing a first portion of the mold with a fluid and solidifying at least one targeted portion of the molten metal which will form the metal product with the fluid. A flow of fluid to the mold is stopped for a period of time. Subsequently, a remaining portion of the molten metal is solidified to form the metal product. The at least one targeted portion of the metal product has better mechanical properties than does a remaining portion of the metal product. A unitary, one-piece aluminum alloy component with differing mechanical properties is also disclosed.

An induction furnace comprising a upper furnace vessel; an induction coil positioned below the upper furnace vessel; and a melt-containing vessel positioned inside the induction coil and communicably connected to the upper furnace vessel, wherein the positioning of the melt-containing vessel inside the induction coil defines a gap between an outside surface of the melt-containing vessel and an inside surface of the induction coil. A system for direct-chill casting comprising at least one an induction furnace; at least one in-line filter operable to remove impurities in molten metal; at least one gas source coupled to a feed port associated with the gas; and at least one device for solidifying metal by casting. A method of cooling an induction furnace comprising introducing a gas into a gap between an induction coil and a melt-containing vessel positioned inside the induction coil; and circulating the gas through the gap.

An apparatus for a high-throughput screw caster of a multi-component gradient metal material from elongate materials, such as multi-component alloy pipes, rods, profiles, and other such materials, has in the lengthwise direction a continuous gradient distribution of chemical components. The apparatus includes an online powder flow-rate regulation system, a rotary feed system, a heating system, a heat insulation system, a motor drive system, a blank forming system and a control system.

An apparatus for a high-throughput screw caster of a multi-component gradient metal material from elongate materials, such as multi-component alloy pipes, rods, profiles, and other such materials, has in the lengthwise direction a continuous gradient distribution of chemical components. The apparatus includes an online powder flow-rate regulation system, a rotary feed system, a heating system, a heat insulation system, a motor drive system, a blank forming system and a control system.