In an example of a method for increasing strength of an aluminum alloy, the aluminum alloy is formed in a molten state. The aluminum alloy includes from about 4 wt % to about 11 wt % silicon, from greater than 0.2 wt % to about 0.5 wt % chromium, from about 0.1 wt % to about 0.5 wt % magnesium, from about 0.01 wt % to about 0.1 wt % titanium, equal to or less than about 0.5 wt % iron, equal to or less than about 0.5 wt % manganese, and a balance of aluminum. The aluminum alloy is subjected to a solution heat treatment. The aluminum alloy is quenched, and the aluminum alloy is age hardened at an age hardening temperature ranging from about 140 C. to 175 C. for a time period ranging from about 3 hours to about 35 hours.

A cast alloy includes aluminum and from about 5 to about 30 weight percent of at least one material selected from the group consisting of cerium, lanthanum, and mischmetal. The cast alloy has a strengthening Al.sub.11X.sub.3 intermetallic phase in an amount in the range of from about 5 to about 30 weight percent, wherein X is at least one of cerium, lanthanum, and mischmetal. The Al.sub.11X.sub.3 intermetallic phase has a microstructure that includes at least one of lath features and rod morphological features. The morphological features have an average thickness of no more than 700 um and an average spacing of no more than 10 um, the microstructure further comprising an eutectic microconstituent that comprises more than about 10 volume percent of the microstructure.

According to some aspects, a system for producing a target molten metal composition is provided. The system includes a sorting device that sorts input pieces of metal based on a control signal. Sorted pieces of metal are melted in a furnace, and a sensor measures the composition of molten metal in the furnace and in response generates a control signal that is sent to the sorting device.

A method of making an article includes placing a high thermal conductive insert in a mold. A liquid metal composition is introduced into the mold into contact with the high thermal conductive insert. The liquid metal composition in the mold is solidified to form a solid metal article with the high thermal conductive insert retained therein, and the solid metal article with the high thermal conductive insert retained therein is removed from the mold.

A light metal material having a tensile strength of >180 MPa at room temperature is provided, as well as a method for producing such a light metal material and the use of such a light metal material as a piston component in a rotary piston engine.

An improved magnesium-based alloy for wrought applications is disclosed, including a method of fabricating alloy sheet from said alloy. The improved magnesium-based alloy consists of: 0.5 to 4.0% by weight zinc; 0.02 to 0.70% by weight a rare earth element, or mixture of the same including gadolinium; and incidental impurities. The rare earth element in some embodiments may be yttrium and/or gadolinium. In some embodiments the magnesium-based alloy may also consist of a grain refiner and in some embodiments the grain refiner may be zirconium. In combination, the inclusion of zinc and a rare earth element, into the magnesium alloy may have enhanced capacity for rolling workability, deep drawing at low temperatures and stretch formability at room temperature. The improved alloy may also exhibit increased tensile strength and formability while evincing a reduced tendency for tearing during preparation.

The invention relates to biodegradable, metal alloy-containing compositions, methods for their preparation and applications for their use. The compositions include magnesium and other components, such as yttrium, calcium, silver, cerium, and zirconium; or zinc, silver, cerium, and zirconium; or aluminum, zinc, calcium, manganese, silver, yttrium; or strontium, calcium, zinc. The compositions are prepared by vacuum induction/crucible melting together the components and casting the melted mixture in a preheated mild steel/copper mold. In certain embodiments, the compositions of the invention are particularly useful for forming medical devices for implantation into a body of a patient.

Production methods for TiAl alloys may include: adding a flux including calcium oxide containing 35+wt. % calcium fluoride, to a melt starting material of Ti material and Al material and with 50+wt. % Al; introducing the fluxed melt starting material into a water-cooled copper crucible having a tapping port in the bottom, induction melting it inside the water-cooled copper crucible in at least a 1.33 Pa atmosphere; the flux, containing oxygen released from the melt starting material by the induction melting, is separated out by tapping the melt starting material, which was induction melted in the water-cooled copper crucible, downward from the tapping port; and when obtaining the TiAl alloy by casting the flux-removed melt starting material, the induction melting output is reduced to no more than 90% of that during melting and tapping is performed from the water-cooled crucible with the output in a reduced state.

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.

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.