A method of manufacturing a Ni alloy casting, includes a casting step of casting molten Ni alloy by pouring the molten Ni alloy into a cavity of a mold, a columnar grain forming step of forming columnar grain by solidifying the molten Ni alloy while drawing the mold, in which the molten Ni alloy has been poured, at a drawing speed of 100 mm/hour or more but 400 mm/hour or less with a temperature gradient provided to a solid-liquid interface, and an equiaxed grain forming step of forming equiaxed grain by solidifying the molten Ni alloy while drawing the mold at a drawing speed of 1000 mm/minute or more continuously after the columnar grain forming step.

Various embodiments provide apparatus and methods for melting materials and for containing the molten materials within melt zone during melting. Exemplary apparatus may include a vessel configured to receive a material for melting therein; a load induction coil positioned adjacent to the vessel to melt the material therein; and a containment induction coil positioned in line with the load induction coil. The material in the vessel can be heated by operating the load induction coil at a first RF frequency to form a molten material. The containment induction coil can be operated at a second RF frequency to contain the molten material within the load induction coil. Once the desired temperature is achieved and maintained for the molten material, operation of the containment induction coil can be stopped and the molten material can be ejected from the vessel into a mold through an ejection path.

Various embodiments provide apparatus and methods for melting materials and for containing the molten materials within melt zone during melting. Exemplary apparatus may include a vessel configured to receive a material for melting therein; a load induction coil positioned adjacent to the vessel to melt the material therein; and a containment induction coil positioned in line with the load induction coil. The material in the vessel can be heated by operating the load induction coil at a first RF frequency to form a molten material. The containment induction coil can be operated at a second RF frequency to contain the molten material within the load induction coil. Once the desired temperature is achieved and maintained for the molten material, operation of the containment induction coil can be stopped and the molten material can be ejected from the vessel into a mold through an ejection path.

The invention concerns a unit comprising a mold (4) adapted to receive a molten metal alloy and the said metal alloy poured therein. The alloy is TiAl. The mold is rotational and comprises receiving recesses (135) made of steel, metal alloy and/or ceramic, and, at the location of a plurality of section planes each passing through the mold and the poured metal alloy, the mold has a surface heat capacity less than that of the poured metal alloy.

The invention concerns a unit comprising a mold (4) adapted to receive a molten metal alloy and the said metal alloy poured therein. The alloy is TiAl. The mold is rotational and comprises receiving recesses (135) made of steel, metal alloy and/or ceramic, and, at the location of a plurality of section planes each passing through the mold and the poured metal alloy, the mold has a surface heat capacity less than that of the poured metal alloy.

A molten metal processing device including an assembly mounted on the casting wheel, including at least one vibrational energy source which supplies vibrational energy to molten metal cast in the casting wheel while the molten metal in the casting wheel is cooled, and a support device holding the vibrational energy source. An associated method for forming a metal product which provides molten metal into a containment structure included as a part of a casting mill, cools the molten metal in the containment structure, and couples vibrational energy into the molten metal in the containment structure.

A molten metal processing device including an assembly mounted on the casting wheel, including at least one vibrational energy source which supplies vibrational energy to molten metal cast in the casting wheel while the molten metal in the casting wheel is cooled, and a support device holding the vibrational energy source. An associated method for forming a metal product which provides molten metal into a containment structure included as a part of a casting mill, cools the molten metal in the containment structure, and couples vibrational energy into the molten metal in the containment structure.

A method for manufacturing a metal workpiece by casting a metal alloy in a mould, in which prior to the casting, a chart is determined providing a risk of appearance of recrystallised grains during the casting and/or solidification of the metal workpiece, depending on temperature and plastic deformation energy conditions undergone by the metal workpiece, the casting of the metal alloy in the mould being implemented under casting and solidification conditions determined using the chart in order for the temperature and plastic deformation energy conditions undergone by the metal workpiece to be less than a given threshold for the risk of appearance of recrystallised grains.

A method for manufacturing a metal workpiece by casting a metal alloy in a mould, in which prior to the casting, a chart is determined providing a risk of appearance of recrystallised grains during the casting and/or solidification of the metal workpiece, depending on temperature and plastic deformation energy conditions undergone by the metal workpiece, the casting of the metal alloy in the mould being implemented under casting and solidification conditions determined using the chart in order for the temperature and plastic deformation energy conditions undergone by the metal workpiece to be less than a given threshold for the risk of appearance of recrystallised grains.

A casting solidification analysis method, which can analyze positions of shrinkage cavities more accurately than in the past, a casting method using the above method, and an electronic program are provided. A following casting solidification analysis method is provided. An amount of expansion/shrinkage for each solidification step length separated by inflection points in a cooling curve is determined, by setting a solid phase ratio at a completion of pouring to 0, setting a solid phase ratio at an end of solidification to 1.0, and determining the expansion/shrinkage amount for the each solidification step length by proportionally distributing the each solidification step length to the total solid phase ratio length.