A liquid metal jet supplying molten metal during a direct chill casting operation can be optimized to erode the slurry region of the molten sump, but not the solidified metal, at a rate equal to the casting speed. A model of the erosion of solidifying grains in the slurry region of the molten sump can be non-dimensionalized to be used to generate casting parameters (e.g., optimally sized nozzle openings and optimal molten metal flow rates) that would provide the optimized liquid metal jet during the casting process. An ingot cast using such an optimized liquid metal jet would have improved macrosegregation properties (e.g., reduced macrosegregation or more evenly distributed macrosegregation), such as having ingot solute concentrations varying from the molten metal supply concentration approximately 10% or less or 5% or less across the width or height of the ingot.

The present invention provides an Al—Mg—Si-based hot forming aluminum alloy plate which has not only high age-hardening property but also a high m value in a high strain rate range and excellent surface properties after forming and which is suitable for hot forming. The hot forming aluminum alloy plate comprises an aluminum alloy comprising 0.3 to 1.8 mass % Mg, 0.6 to 2.0 mass % Si and 0.04 to 0.20 mass % Fe. In the aluminum alloy, Mn content is restricted to 0.030 mass % or less, and Cr content is restricted to 0.030 mass % or less, and a balance comprises Al and unavoidable impurities. The hot forming aluminum alloy plate has an electrical conductivity of 60% or less according to IACS %. A production method of the hot forming aluminum alloy plate is also provided.

The present disclosure concerns embodiments of aluminum alloy compositions exhibiting superior microstructural stability and strength at high temperatures. The disclosed aluminum alloy compositions comprise particular combinations of components that contribute the ability of the alloys to exhibit improved microstructural stability and hot tearing resistance as compared to conventional alloys. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of methods of making and using the alloys.

The invention provides a device (200, 300, 400) for heating a continuous flow fluid. Said device (200, 300, 400) consists of a steel conduit (3, 3′, 3″) through which the fluid to be heated flows and of at least one sheathed resistor (2, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f) that is parallel to the steel conduit (3, 3′, 3″) and that is in thermal contact therewith. The steel conduit (3, 3′, 3″) and the at least one heating element (2, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f) are incorporated in a die-casting element made of an aluminium alloy.

A composite production method includes impregnating a plate-shaped porous inorganic structure and a fibrous inorganic material with a metal while the fibrous inorganic material is arranged to be adjacent to the porous inorganic structure. In the composite structure, first and second phases are adjacent to each other by using a porous inorganic structure having a porous silicon carbide ceramic sintered body and the fibrous inorganic material, the first phase being a phase in which the porous silicon carbide ceramic sintered body is impregnated with the metal, the second phase being a phase in which the fibrous inorganic material is impregnated with the metal, a percentage of the porous silicon carbide ceramic sintered body in the first phase is 50 to 80 volume percent, and a percentage of the fibrous inorganic material in the second phase is 3 to 20 volume percent. A composite is produced by the method.

Provided are an aluminum alloy having an adjusted microstructure in an aluminum matrix or an aluminum alloy matrix for high elongation percentage or high strength and a method of fabricating the same. The aluminum alloy includes an aluminum-based matrix; and a nonmetal element solidified in the aluminum-based matrix, wherein stacking fault energy of the aluminum alloy is decreased compared to that of pure aluminum.

The present invention relates to aluminum alloy products that can be riveted and possess excellent ductility and toughness properties. The present invention also relates to a method of producing the aluminum alloy products. In particular, these products have application in the automotive industry.

An aluminum-silicon carbide composite including flat-plate-shaped composited portion containing silicon carbide and an aluminum alloy, and aluminum layers containing an aluminum alloy provided on both plate surfaces of composited portion, wherein circuit board is mounted on one plate surface and the other plate surface is used as heat-dissipating surface, wherein: the heat-dissipating-surface-side plate surface of the composited portion has a convex curved shape; the heat-dissipating-surface-side aluminum layer has a convex curved shape; ratio (Ax/B) between the average (Ax) of the thicknesses at the centers on opposing short sides of outer peripheral surfaces and thickness (B) at central portions of the plate surfaces satisfies the relationship: 0.91≦Ax/B≦1.00; and a ratio (Ay/B) between the average (Ay) of the thicknesses at the centers on opposing long sides of outer peripheral surfaces and thickness (B) at central portions of the plate surfaces satisfies the relationship: 0.94≦Ay/B≦1.00 and production method therefor.

The invention relates to a method for producing an engine component, in particular a piston for an internal combustion engine, wherein an aluminum alloy is cast in the gravity die casting process and wherein the aluminum alloy has 7 to <14.5 wt % silicon, >1.2 to ≦4 wt % nickel, >3.7 to <10 wt % copper, <1 wt % cobalt, 0.1 to 1.5 wt % magnesium, 0.1 to ≦0.7 wt % iron, 0.1 to ≦0.7 wt % manganese, >0.1 to <0.5 wt % zirconium, ≧0.1 to ≦0.3 wt % vanadium, 0.05 to 0.5 wt % titanium, and 0.004 to ≦0.05 wt % phosphorus as alloying elements and aluminum and unavoidable contaminants as the remainder. The aluminum alloy can optionally comprise beryllium, wherein the calcium content is limited to a low level. The invention further relates to an engine component, in particular a piston for an internal combustion engine, wherein the engine component is composed at least partially of an aluminum alloy, and to the use of an aluminum alloy to produce an engine component, in particular a piston of an internal combustion engine.

An exemplary method for making a metal matrix composite vehicle component includes: using a mold including male and female die portions having mold surfaces and a plurality of spacers; heating the mold to a casting temperature; placing a ceramic preform on the plurality of spacers, the ceramic preform being spaced apart from at least one of the mold surfaces by the spacers; closing the mold to form a mold cavity between the mold surfaces of the male and female die portions, the ceramic preform being disposed within the mold cavity; providing molten metal into the mold cavity; and pressurizing the molten metal to a casting pressure for a casting duration to infiltrate the ceramic preform thereby forming the metal matrix composite vehicle component.