An apparatus for continuous or semi-continuous low pressure casting of metal, in particular directly-cooled (DC) casting of extended objects such as a rods, bars or billets of aluminium. The apparatus includes a frame construction with at least one chill or mould having a mould cavity that is provided with an upwardly open inlet and an outlet with cooling means. The inlet of the mould is connected to a distribution chamber receiving liquid metal from a metal store such as a holding furnace via a metal supply channel or launder. A flexible launder section is provided between the launder and the metal distribution chamber whereby the frame construction with the moulds and distribution chamber can be raised and lowered to enable complete filling of metal to the moulds. Subsequently it is possible to control the metal level in each respective mould cavity in relation to the metal level in the launder and thereby controlling the low pressure casting.

A lightweight, high-conductivity, heat-resistant, and iron-containing aluminum wire, and a preparation process thereof. The aluminum wire is mainly composed of aluminum, boron, zirconium, iron, lanthanum, and inevitable impurity elements, and the preparation process for the wire is as follows: melting industrial pure aluminum; then adding intermediate alloys of boron, zirconium, iron, and lanthanum to the melt; performing stirring, refining, furnace front component rapid analysis, component adjustment, standing, deslagging, and rapid cooling casting to obtain an aluminum alloy blank; and performing annealing, extrusion, and drawing on the cast blank to obtain an aluminum alloy monofilament. The wire obtained has density less than or equal to 2.714 g/cm3, electrical conductivity greater than or equal to 62% IACS, a short-term heat-resistance temperature as high as 230 C., a long-term heat-resistance temperature as high as 210 C., and tensile strength greater than or equal to 170 MPa.

A method for reducing target surface features in continuously cast articles is described. The method can remove a target surface feature, such as a compositional variation or casting defect, from the continuously cast article by removing, before cold rolling, material from the continuously cast article surface.

A method for reducing target surface features in continuously cast articles is described. The method can remove a target surface feature, such as a compositional variation or casting defect, from the continuously cast article by removing, before cold rolling, material from the continuously cast article surface.

There is provided a composite of a metallic matrix and boron nitride nanotubes, the metallic matrix including aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Also, there is provided a method for manufacturing the composite. The method includes: a powder mixing step of mixing a powder of boron nitride nanotubes and a powder of an element soluble in a molten metal of the metallic matrix to prepare a powder mixture of boron nitride nanotubes and a metallic matrix-soluble element; an alloy melt mixing step of mixing the powder mixture and the molten metal of the metallic matrix to prepare a metallic matrix melt mixed with boron nitride nanotubes; and a casting step of solidifying the metallic matrix melt mixed with boron nitride nanotubes to obtain the composite.

A molten metal processing device including a molten metal containment structure for reception and transport of molten metal along a longitudinal length thereof. The device further includes a cooling unit for the containment structure including a cooling channel for passage of a liquid medium therein, and an ultrasonic probe disposed in relation to the cooling channel such that ultrasonic waves are coupled through the liquid medium in the cooling channel and through the molten metal containment structure into the molten metal.

The present invention relates to a composite material based on aluminium and alumina, its method of manufacture, and a cable comprising said composite material as an electrical conductor element.

Provided herein are continuously cast aluminum alloy products exhibiting uniform surface characteristics. The aluminum alloy products have a first surface comprising a width, wherein the first surface comprises an average of 50 exudates or less per square centimeter across the width of the first surface. Also provided herein are methods of making aluminum alloy products having improved surface characteristics. Further provided are methods and systems for manufacturing aluminum alloy products, such as sheets, having reduced surface defects.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy product including the steps of: creating a bath of liquid metal in an aluminum-copper-lithium alloy, casting said alloy by vertical semi-continuous casting so as to obtain a plate with thickness T and width W such that, during solidification, the hydrogen content of said liquid metal bath (1) is lower than 0.4 ml/100 g, the oxygen content above the liquid surface (14, 15) is less than 0.5% by volume.

The present disclosure provides an aluminum alloy wire or the like which can secure a high conductivity and a moderately low yield strength, and realize both a high elongation and a moderate tensile strength. An aluminum alloy wire of the present disclosure contains 0.10 to 1.00% by mass of Mg, 0.10 to 1.20% by mass of Si, 0.10 to 1.40% by mass of Fe, 0 to 0.10% by mass of Ti, 0 to 0.030% by mass of B, 0 to 1.00% by mass of Cu, 0 to 1.00% by mass of Mn, 0 to 1.00% by mass of Cr, 0 to 0.50% by mass of Zr, and 0 to 0.50% by mass of Ni, the balance being Al and 0.30% by mass or less of impurities. Coarse crystal grains are present in a vertical cross-sectional structure of the wire taken in a lengthwise direction of the wire. The greatest grain size of the coarse crystal grains as measured in the lengthwise direction of the wire is equal to or greater than a diameter of the wire. A proportion of an area of the coarse crystal grains to the total of the areas of all the crystal grains within a range of the vertical cross-sectional structure in which the vertical cross-sectional structure is measured, is 50% or more. Elongation of the wire is 10% or more.