The invention relates to the reduction of core losses in soft magnetic applications utilizing amorphous foil as the core material. Amorphous foil is known to have lower losses when compared to crystalline silicon steel laminations. It is found that a reduction of 10-40% of losses can be achieved over the current state of the art amorphous material by mechanical scribing of the surface of the soft magnetic laminations comprising the wound core in power conditioning devices such as a transformer. The scribing process introduces control of the magnetic domains causing ease of magnetic flux reversal

The invention relates to the reduction of core losses in soft magnetic applications utilizing amorphous foil as the core material. Amorphous foil is known to have lower losses when compared to crystalline silicon steel laminations. It is found that a reduction of 10-40% of losses can be achieved over the current state of the art amorphous material by mechanical scribing of the surface of the soft magnetic laminations comprising the wound core in power conditioning devices such as a transformer. The scribing process introduces control of the magnetic domains causing ease of magnetic flux reversal

A method and apparatus for producing solid alloy components from its liquid state are provided. The molten alloy is rapidly cooled using a chill to temperatures below the thermosolutal transition temperature of the alloy. Finite-amplitude acoustic vibration is applied on the chill to shake off dendrites that form on the chill surface, to stir the slurry containing the fragments of dendrites, and to shake off slurry material that sticks on the surface of the chill as the chill is separating from the slurry. The slurry is then immediately poured into a chamber of a forming machine or a mold cavity shaped into solid components.

A method and apparatus for producing solid alloy components from its liquid state are provided. The molten alloy is rapidly cooled using a chill to temperatures below the thermosolutal transition temperature of the alloy. Finite-amplitude acoustic vibration is applied on the chill to shake off dendrites that form on the chill surface, to stir the slurry containing the fragments of dendrites, and to shake off slurry material that sticks on the surface of the chill as the chill is separating from the slurry. The slurry is then immediately poured into a chamber of a forming machine or a mold cavity shaped into solid components.

A method and apparatus for direct chill casting of metals and metal alloys which includes application of vibrational energy to the molten material in an open-ended mold and at the outlet of the mold are provided. In an aspect, the method is directed to the production of cast aluminum alloys.

An apparatus for continuous casting a metal strip and reducing snake eggs in the metal strip. A pair of counter rotating casting rolls through which a thin strip can be cast are provided. A metal delivery system is disposed above the nip for discharging molten metal into a casting pool supported on the rolls. A pair of side dam holders and a pair of side dams are assembled adjacent each end portion of the rolls. Each side dam holder is tapered and dovetails with an adjacent side dam to confine the casting pool of molten metal supported on casting surfaces of the rolls. An oscillation mechanism provides lateral oscillation to each side dam and side dam holder at a frequency 2-50 hertz and with an amplitude 100-2000 μm during casting.

An apparatus for continuous casting a metal strip and reducing snake eggs in the metal strip. A pair of counter rotating casting rolls through which a thin strip can be cast are provided. A metal delivery system is disposed above the nip for discharging molten metal into a casting pool supported on the rolls. A pair of side dam holders and a pair of side dams are assembled adjacent each end portion of the rolls. Each side dam holder is tapered and dovetails with an adjacent side dam to confine the casting pool of molten metal supported on casting surfaces of the rolls. An oscillation mechanism provides lateral oscillation to each side dam and side dam holder at a frequency 2-50 hertz and with an amplitude 100-2000 μm during casting.

The invention relates to a method for producing foundry ingots (1) from metal, in particular from steel, having a cross-sectional area of more than 0.1 m.sup.2, wherein liquid metal (2) is discharged into an ingot mold (15) open at the bottom either directly form a casting ladle (11) or via a tundish (12), and wherein, by a drawing piston (28), which is vertically movable in the direction of a longitudinal axis (5) of the foundry ingot (1) and on which the foundry ingot (1) is at least indirectly arranged, the at least partially solidified foundry ingot (1) is drawn from the ingot mold (15) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (5).

An apparatus for a high-throughput screw caster of a multi-component gradient metal material from elongate materials, such as multi-component alloy pipes, rods, profiles, and other such materials, has in the lengthwise direction a continuous gradient distribution of chemical components. The apparatus includes an online powder flow-rate regulation system, a rotary feed system, a heating system, a heat insulation system, a motor drive system, a blank forming system and a control system.

An apparatus for a high-throughput screw caster of a multi-component gradient metal material from elongate materials, such as multi-component alloy pipes, rods, profiles, and other such materials, has in the lengthwise direction a continuous gradient distribution of chemical components. The apparatus includes an online powder flow-rate regulation system, a rotary feed system, a heating system, a heat insulation system, a motor drive system, a blank forming system and a control system.