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 scaling element which can be made neutrally buoyant.

Various embodiments provide methods and apparatus for forming bulk metallic glass (BMG) articles using a mold having a stationary mold part and a movable mold part paired to form a mold cavity. A molten material can be injected to fill the mold cavity. The molten material can then be cooled into a BMG article at a desired cooling rate. While injecting and/or cooling the molten material, the movement of the movable mold part can be controlled, such that a thermal contact between the molten material and the mold can be maintained. BMG articles can be formed without forming an underfilled part. Additional structural features can be imparted in the BMG article during formation. At least a portion of the formed BMG article can have an aspect ratio (first dimension/second dimension) of at least 10 or less than 0.1.

Various embodiments provide methods and apparatus for forming bulk metallic glass (BMG) articles using a mold having a stationary mold part and a movable mold part paired to form a mold cavity. A molten material can be injected to fill the mold cavity. The molten material can then be cooled into a BMG article at a desired cooling rate. While injecting and/or cooling the molten material, the movement of the movable mold part can be controlled, such that a thermal contact between the molten material and the mold can be maintained. BMG articles can be formed without forming an underfilled part. Additional structural features can be imparted in the BMG article during formation. At least a portion of the formed BMG article can have an aspect ratio (first dimension/second dimension) of at least 10 or less than 0.1.

A method for a die casting with a casting device which includes a casting valve with a valve piston and a post-compression piston configured to provide a post-compression. The method includes providing a casting valve in a closed position and a mold cavity which is cleaned and prepared for a mold filling process, opening the casting valve for a casting, filling the casting valve with a melt, closing the casting valve after the filling with the melt, cooling the casting valve and the melt, and removing a cast part. A post-compression is provided to the melt during the cooling by the post-compression piston.

A method for a die casting with a casting device which includes a casting valve with a valve piston and a post-compression piston configured to provide a post-compression. The method includes providing a casting valve in a closed position and a mold cavity which is cleaned and prepared for a mold filling process, opening the casting valve for a casting, filling the casting valve with a melt, closing the casting valve after the filling with the melt, cooling the casting valve and the melt, and removing a cast part. A post-compression is provided to the melt during the cooling by the post-compression piston.

A castable, moldable, or extrudable structure using a metallic base metal or base metal alloy. One or more insoluble additives are added to the metallic base metal or base metal alloy so that the grain boundaries of the castable, moldable, or extrudable structure includes a composition and morphology to achieve a specific galvanic corrosion rates partially or throughout the structure or along the grain boundaries of the structure. The insoluble additives can be used to enhance the mechanical properties of the structure, such as ductility and/or tensile strength. The insoluble particles generally have a submicron particle size. The final structure can be enhanced by heat treatment, as well as deformation processing such as extrusion, forging, or rolling, to further improve the strength of the final structure as compared to the non-enhanced structure.

A castable, moldable, or extrudable structure using a metallic base metal or base metal alloy. One or more insoluble additives are added to the metallic base metal or base metal alloy so that the grain boundaries of the castable, moldable, or extrudable structure includes a composition and morphology to achieve a specific galvanic corrosion rates partially or throughout the structure or along the grain boundaries of the structure. The insoluble additives can be used to enhance the mechanical properties of the structure, such as ductility and/or tensile strength. The insoluble particles generally have a submicron particle size. The final structure can be enhanced by heat treatment, as well as deformation processing such as extrusion, forging, or rolling, to further improve the strength of the final structure as compared to the non-enhanced structure.

Undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles, whose core is stable against solidification at ambient conditions, i.e. under near ambient temperature and pressure conditions, are used to join or repair metallic non-particulate components. The undercooled-shell particles in the form of nano-size or micro-size particles comprise an undercooled stable liquid metallic core encapsulated inside an outer shell, which can comprise an oxide or other stabilizer shell typically formed in-situ on the undercooled liquid metallic core. The shell is ruptured to release the liquid phase core material to join or repair a component(s).

Undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles, whose core is stable against solidification at ambient conditions, i.e. under near ambient temperature and pressure conditions, are used to join or repair metallic non-particulate components. The undercooled-shell particles in the form of nano-size or micro-size particles comprise an undercooled stable liquid metallic core encapsulated inside an outer shell, which can comprise an oxide or other stabilizer shell typically formed in-situ on the undercooled liquid metallic core. The shell is ruptured to release the liquid phase core material to join or repair a component(s).

Undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles, whose core is stable against solidification at ambient conditions, i.e. under near ambient temperature and pressure conditions, are used to join or repair metallic non-particulate components. The undercooled-shell particles in the form of nano-size or micro-size particles comprise an undercooled stable liquid metallic core encapsulated inside an outer shell, which can comprise an oxide or other stabilizer shell typically formed in-situ on the undercooled liquid metallic core. The shell is ruptured to release the liquid phase core material to join or repair a component(s).