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 tool (100) comprises a plurality of layers (102, 104, 106) which are arranged to provide a thermally agile tool face (110) and to protect control circuitry and delicate components (150) from excessive temperatures.

Steam exhaust ports are located around a perimeter of a direct chill casting pit, at various locations from below the top of the pit to the pit bottom to rapidly remove steam from the casting pit with addition of dry excess air. Gas introduction ports are also located around a perimeter of the casting pit and configured to introduce an inert gas into the casting pit interior.

Steam exhaust ports are located around a perimeter of a direct chill casting pit, at various locations from below the top of the pit to the pit bottom to rapidly remove steam from the casting pit with addition of dry excess air. Gas introduction ports are also located around a perimeter of the casting pit and configured to introduce an inert gas into the casting pit interior.

An aluminum alloy casting excellent in high temperature strength and thermal conductivity, a method of producing the same, and an aluminum alloy piston for internal combustion engine using this casting. An aluminum alloy casting having a chemical composition comprising Si: 12.0 to 13.5 mass % Cu: 4.5 to 5.5 mass % Mg: 0.6 to 1.0 mass % Ni: 0.7 to 1.3 mass % Fe: 1.15 to 1.25 mass % Ti: 0.10 to 0.2 mass % P: 0.004 to 0.02 mass % and a balance of Al and unavoidable impurities, wherein
in an observed field of view of 0.2 mm.sup.2, the major axis length of the AlFeSi based crystallites is 100 m or less by average length of 10 crystallites from the largest down. The method for producing the casting comprising casting a melt of aluminum alloy having the above chemical composition at cooling rate of 100 C./sec or more, then performing aging treatment.

An aluminum alloy casting excellent in high temperature strength and thermal conductivity, a method of producing the same, and an aluminum alloy piston for internal combustion engine using this casting. An aluminum alloy casting having a chemical composition comprising Si: 12.0 to 13.5 mass % Cu: 4.5 to 5.5 mass % Mg: 0.6 to 1.0 mass % Ni: 0.7 to 1.3 mass % Fe: 1.15 to 1.25 mass % Ti: 0.10 to 0.2 mass % P: 0.004 to 0.02 mass % and a balance of Al and unavoidable impurities, wherein
in an observed field of view of 0.2 mm.sup.2, the major axis length of the AlFeSi based crystallites is 100 m or less by average length of 10 crystallites from the largest down. The method for producing the casting comprising casting a melt of aluminum alloy having the above chemical composition at cooling rate of 100 C./sec or more, then performing aging treatment.

A method for fabricating a cast component with a cooling channel is provided. The method includes forming a shell mold over a pattern-ceramic matrix composite (CMC) elongated core arrangement to define a cavity in the shell mold. The pattern-CMC elongated core arrangement includes a pattern-forming material with a CMC elongated core disposed therein. The pattern-forming material in the cavity is replaced with metal via a casting process to form the cast component with the CMC elongated core disposed therein defining the cooling channel. The CMC elongated core is removed from the cast component to open the cooling channel for fluid communication.

A method for fabricating a cast component with a cooling channel is provided. The method includes forming a shell mold over a pattern-ceramic matrix composite (CMC) elongated core arrangement to define a cavity in the shell mold. The pattern-CMC elongated core arrangement includes a pattern-forming material with a CMC elongated core disposed therein. The pattern-forming material in the cavity is replaced with metal via a casting process to form the cast component with the CMC elongated core disposed therein defining the cooling channel. The CMC elongated core is removed from the cast component to open the cooling channel for fluid communication.

In a casting device, when a mold varied in outer size depending on a position passes through a heat shielding portion between a heating chamber and a cooling chamber, a flexible portion of a heat shielding body is bent to fit the outer size of the mold.

In a casting device, when a mold varied in outer size depending on a position passes through a heat shielding portion between a heating chamber and a cooling chamber, a flexible portion of a heat shielding body is bent to fit the outer size of the mold.