An apparatus and method for filtering molten metal (M), such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy includes at least one ceramic foam filter or any other type of filtration media such as porous tube or alumina balls disposed in a receptacle (12) for the molten metal (M). A vibrator vibrates at least one of the filter, the receptacle (12) or the metal and may be used to induce priming, filtering and/or drainage of the filter. The vibrator may be retrofitted to an existing filter system and may be adjustable in frequency and amplitude. The vibration may be continuous over a given period or produced in a single shock.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for treating a molten metal are provided. A metal treatment system, comprising: a wire feeding subsystem; and a cored wire; wherein the wire feeding subsystem feeds the cored wire into a metal bath at a controlled wire feed rate, and wherein the metal bath comprises a molten metal; wherein the cored wire comprises: a consumable outer sheath having a tubular cross section; and a core fill material coupled to an inner surface of the outer sheath, wherein the core fill material comprises a refining agent for refining the molten metal; and wherein the refining agent reacts with the molten metal, thereby causing an impurity to be removable from the metal bath.

A method for regenerating different types of copper-containing aluminum alloys using aluminum alloy scrap from aeronautical industry includes detecting a chemical composition of said aluminum alloy scrap and optionally adding a suitable amount of a metal or alloy additive according to a composition requirement of a target aluminum-copper alloy, thereby obtaining a mixture of aluminum alloy scrap and metal or alloy additive; vacuum smelting the mixture of aluminum alloy scrap and metal or alloy additive in a vacuum furnace, wherein impurities are removed and an aluminum alloy solution is formed; filtering the aluminum alloy solution using a filter to obtain a melt comprising a target aluminum alloy composition; and casting the target aluminum alloy composition from said melt.

Liquid metal degassing device comprising a chamber containing a liquid metal bath, a device for circulating a gas through a purification chamber and in that the purification chamber comprises a getter material configured to trap dihydrogen from the circulating gas. Method for degassing a liquid metal bath to reduce the hydrogen concentration of the liquid metal comprising the following steps a) Preparing a liquid metal bath, preferably an aluminum alloy b) Circulating a gas, c) Exchanging hydrogen from the circulating gas with the liquid metal such that the hydrogen dissolved in the liquid metal bath diffuses into the circulating gas and enriches the circulating gas with dihydrogen, d) Purifying the circulating gas enriched with dihydrogen in a purification chamber comprising a getter material configured to trap dihydrogen from the circulating gas.

The invention provides a method of refining aluminum alloy, which is characterized in that aluminum-based nanometer quasicrystal alloy is used as an aluminum alloy refiner to refine the aluminum alloy; the aluminum-based nanometer quasicrystal alloy does not comprise Si, Fe or Cr; the aluminum-based nanometer quasicrystal alloy consists of (1) Al; (2) Mn and (3) La and/or Ce. The refiner selected in the invention is rare earth-containing alloy which has a strong refinement ability on the aluminum alloy, and is nanometer quasicrystal; after adding the rare earth-containing alloy to melt, the element distribution of the rare earth-containing alloy is more uniform than that of traditional alloy; and nanometer quasicrystal particles substantially increase the number of heterogeneous nucleation particles and improve the grain refinement effect of the aluminum alloy.

The invention provides a method of refining aluminum alloy, which is characterized in that aluminum-based nanometer quasicrystal alloy is used as an aluminum alloy refiner to refine the aluminum alloy; the aluminum-based nanometer quasicrystal alloy does not comprise Si, Fe or Cr; the aluminum-based nanometer quasicrystal alloy consists of (1) Al; (2) Mn and (3) La and/or Ce. The refiner selected in the invention is rare earth-containing alloy which has a strong refinement ability on the aluminum alloy, and is nanometer quasicrystal; after adding the rare earth-containing alloy to melt, the element distribution of the rare earth-containing alloy is more uniform than that of traditional alloy; and nanometer quasicrystal particles substantially increase the number of heterogeneous nucleation particles and improve the grain refinement effect of the aluminum alloy.

An apparatus and method for filtering molten metal, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy includes at least one ceramic foam filter or any other type of filtration media such as porous tube or alumina balls disposed in a receptacle for the molten metal. A vibrator vibrates at least one of the filter, the receptacle or the metal and may be used to induce priming, filtering and/or drainage of the filter. The vibrator may be retrofitted to an existing filter system and may be adjustable in frequency and amplitude. The vibration may be continuous over a given period or produced in a single shock.

A system for adding molten lithium and inert gas in a molten aluminium or aluminium alloy melt including, a crucible defining a chamber for melting and storing molten metal, in particular molten lithium; the crucible having a sealed lid; an inert gas delivery system for maintaining chamber overpressure using inert gas; a conduit for withdrawing a portion of the molten metal from the crucible. The conduit arranged with respect to the crucible or the sealed lid so the conduit inlet can be moved below and above the molten metal surface level and arranged for feeding molten metal from the crucible to a separate holding furnace with the help of overpressure when the conduit inlet is below the molten metal surface level and arranged for feeding inert gas from the crucible to the separate holding furnace when the conduit inlet is above the molten metal surface level.

A system for adding molten lithium and inert gas in a molten aluminium or aluminium alloy melt including, a crucible defining a chamber for melting and storing molten metal, in particular molten lithium; the crucible having a sealed lid; an inert gas delivery system for maintaining chamber overpressure using inert gas; a conduit for withdrawing a portion of the molten metal from the crucible. The conduit arranged with respect to the crucible or the sealed lid so the conduit inlet can be moved below and above the molten metal surface level and arranged for feeding molten metal from the crucible to a separate holding furnace with the help of overpressure when the conduit inlet is below the molten metal surface level and arranged for feeding inert gas from the crucible to the separate holding furnace when the conduit inlet is above the molten metal surface level.

A system and method for transferring molten metal from a vessel and into one or more of a ladle, ingot mold, launder, feed die cast machine or other structure is disclosed. The system includes at least a vessel for containing molten metal, an overflow (or dividing) wall, and a device or structure, such as a molten metal pump, for generating a stream of molten metal. The dividing wall divides the vessel into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein part of the second chamber has a height H2. The device for generating a stream of molten metal, which is preferably a molten metal pump, is preferably positioned in the first chamber. When the device operates, it generates a stream of molten metal from the first chamber and into the second chamber. When the level of molten metal in the second chamber exceeds H2, molten metal flows out of the vessel and into another structure, such as into one or more ladles and/or one or more launders.