A shot tube includes an inner bore for delivering molten material into a die-cast mold. The shot tube has an outer peripheral surface with at least one surface for receiving a locking member to lock the shot tube into an aperture in a fixed mold portion and an alignment structure for properly aligning the shot tube in the fixed mold portion. An opening receives molten material into the inner bore. A die-cast machine is also disclosed.

A key for operating a mechanical lock, which key includes a head portion for holding by a user, a lock-engaging portion for inserting into the lock for operating the lock by the application of a turning force, and a joining portion between the head portion and the lock-engaging portion and fixing the head portion to the lock-engaging portion. The joining portion includes a shape memory material, which reversibly deforms without breakage when a first turning force on the key is exceeded, where the first turning force is lower than a second turning force. The second turning force being a turning force which if exceeded causes breakage of the lock-engaging portion or the head portion. The shape memory material may exhibit a superelastic effect in which the shape is restored when the turning force ceases, or shape memory effect in which the shape is restored on heating above a state-transition temperature.

A key for operating a mechanical lock, which key includes a head portion for holding by a user, a lock-engaging portion for inserting into the lock for operating the lock by the application of a turning force, and a joining portion between the head portion and the lock-engaging portion and fixing the head portion to the lock-engaging portion. The joining portion includes a shape memory material, which reversibly deforms without breakage when a first turning force on the key is exceeded, where the first turning force is lower than a second turning force. The second turning force being a turning force which if exceeded causes breakage of the lock-engaging portion or the head portion. The shape memory material may exhibit a superelastic effect in which the shape is restored when the turning force ceases, or shape memory effect in which the shape is restored on heating above a state-transition temperature.

A method of forming a component having an internal passage defined therein is provided. The method includes positioning a jacketed core with respect to a mold. The jacketed core includes a hollow structure formed at least partially by an additive manufacturing process, and an inner core disposed within the hollow structure. The method also includes introducing a component material in a molten state into a cavity of the mold, and cooling the component material in the cavity to form the component. The inner core is positioned to define the internal passage within the component.

A CuZnSi alloy having low lead content is described, along with components such as plumbing fittings suitable for drinking water pipes, and methods of manufacturing same are described.

A metallic glass formed of an alloy including: (a-c-x) atomic % of Ni, with a between 54 and 72; (b-y) atomic % of Nb, with b between 35 and 44; c atomic % of Cu, with c from 0.05 to 9; x atomic % of at least one element chosen from: Co, Fe, Ag, Mn, Pd, Au, Ir, Os, Pt, Re, Rh, Ru and Te, with x from 0 to 20; y atomic % of at least one element chosen from: Hf, Ta, Ti, Cr, Mo, Sc, V, W and Y, with y from 0 to 20; z atomic % of at least one element chosen from: B, Si, Al, Sn, Ca, Ga, In, Mg and Zn, with z from 0 to 10; at most 3 atomic % of Zr; and other elements at most 0.1% by weight each and at most 0.5% by weight in total.

A composite material including at least one reinforcing zone of tungsten carbide and a manganese steel matrix. A manganese steel zone surrounds the at least one reinforcing zone. An interface layer is positioned between the reinforcing zone and the manganese steel zone. An average grain size of the WC particles in the reinforcing zone is between 7-12 m.

A composite material has at least one reinforcing zone including niobium carbide (NbC) and a manganese steel matrix. A manganese steel zone surrounds the at least one reinforcing zone and an interface layer is positioned between the reinforcing zone and the manganese steel zone. An average grain size of the NbC particles in the at least one reinforcing zone is between 2-5 m.

A key for operating a mechanical lock, which key includes a head portion for holding by a user, a lock-engaging portion for inserting into the lock for operating the lock by the application of a turning force, and a joining portion between the head portion and the lock-engaging portion and fixing the head portion to the lock-engaging portion. The joining portion includes a shape memory material, which reversibly deforms without breakage when a first turning force on the key is exceeded, where the first turning force is lower than a second turning force. The second turning force being a turning force which if exceeded causes breakage of the lock-engaging portion or the head portion. The shape memory material may exhibit a superelastic effect in which the shape is restored when the turning force ceases, or shape memory effect in which the shape is restored on heating above a state-transition temperature.

A casting method, cast article and casting system are disclosed. The casting method includes providing a base material in a mold, directing a fluid material into the mold, and solidifying the base material and the fluid material to form a cast article. The base material has a first density and first composition. The fluid material has a second density and a second composition. The first density differs from the second density, the first composition differs from the second composition, or the first density differs from the second density and the first composition differs from the second composition. The cast article includes a first material solidification from the base material, and a second material solidification from the fluid material. The casting system includes a mold for containing a base material and an input configuration, with flow control feature, for directing a fluid material into the mold containing the base material.