A disclosed process produces at least one concentrated copper product together with at least one crude solder product, starting from a black copper composition with at least 50% of copper together with at least 1.0% wt of tin and at least 1.0% wt of lead The process includes the step of partially oxidizing the black copper thereby forming a first copper refining slag, followed by partially reducing the first copper refining slag to form a first lead-tin based metal composition and a first spent slag. The total feed to the reducing step includes an amount of copper that is at least 1.5 times as high as the sum of the amounts of Sn plus Pb present, and the first spent slag includes at most 20% wt total of copper, tin and lead together.

An aluminum alloy includes, in weight percent, 0.50-1.30% Si, 0.2-0.60% Fe, 0.15% max Cu, 0.5-0.90% Mn, 0.6-1.0% Mg, and 0.20% max Cr, the balance being aluminum and unavoidable impurities. The alloy may include excess Mg over the amount that can be occupied by MgSi precipitates. The alloy may be utilized as a matrix material for a composite that includes a filler material dispersed in the matrix material. One such composite may include boron carbide as a filler material, and the resultant composite may be used for neutron shielding applications.

An aluminum alloy includes, in weight percent, 0.50-1.30% Si, 0.2-0.60% Fe, 0.15% max Cu, 0.5-0.90% Mn, 0.6-1.0% Mg, and 0.20% max Cr, the balance being aluminum and unavoidable impurities. The alloy may include excess Mg over the amount that can be occupied by MgSi precipitates. The alloy may be utilized as a matrix material for a composite that includes a filler material dispersed in the matrix material. One such composite may include boron carbide as a filler material, and the resultant composite may be used for neutron shielding applications.

Provided are an anti-fatigue in-situ aluminum-based nanocomposite material for heavy-load automobile hubs and a preparation method therefor. By means of the fine adjustment of components and a forming process, in situ nano-compositing, micro-alloying and rapid compression moulding techniques are combined. That is, after the addition of Zr and B, an in-situ reaction occurs to form a nano ZrB.sub.2 ceramic reinforcement, which is distributed in aluminum crystals and crystal boundaries and bonded to a metallurgical interface kept firm with the matrix.

Provided are an anti-fatigue in-situ aluminum-based nanocomposite material for heavy-load automobile hubs and a preparation method therefor. By means of the fine adjustment of components and a forming process, in situ nano-compositing, micro-alloying and rapid compression moulding techniques are combined. That is, after the addition of Zr and B, an in-situ reaction occurs to form a nano ZrB.sub.2 ceramic reinforcement, which is distributed in aluminum crystals and crystal boundaries and bonded to a metallurgical interface kept firm with the matrix.

The present invention provides a method for preparing ferrovanadium alloys based on aluminothermic self-propagating gradient reduction and slag washing refining. The method includes the steps of (1) performing aluminothermic self-propagating gradient reduction; (2) performing heat preserving and smelting to obtain an upper layer alumina-based slag and a lower layer alloy melt; (3) jetting refining slags into the lower layer alloy melt, and performing stirring and slag washing refining; and (4) cooling the refined high-temperature melt to room temperature, and removing an upper layer smelting slag to obtain the ferrovanadium alloys.

The present invention provides a method for preparing ferrovanadium alloys based on aluminothermic self-propagating gradient reduction and slag washing refining. The method includes the steps of (1) performing aluminothermic self-propagating gradient reduction; (2) performing heat preserving and smelting to obtain an upper layer alumina-based slag and a lower layer alloy melt; (3) jetting refining slags into the lower layer alloy melt, and performing stirring and slag washing refining; and (4) cooling the refined high-temperature melt to room temperature, and removing an upper layer smelting slag to obtain the ferrovanadium alloys.

An advantage of the invention is to provide a master alloy used in a casting of a modified copper alloy, grains of which can be refined during a melt-solidification, and also a method of casting a modified copper alloy using the same.

In order to achieve the advantage, master alloy for casting a copper alloy in a form of Cu: 40 to 80%, Zr: 0.5 to 35% and the balance of Zn; and Cu: 40 to 80%, Zr: 0.5 to 35%, P: 0.01 to 3% and the balance of Zn are used, and thus grain-refined copper alloy casting products are obtained.

An advantage of the invention is to provide a master alloy used in a casting of a modified copper alloy, grains of which can be refined during a melt-solidification, and also a method of casting a modified copper alloy using the same.

In order to achieve the advantage, master alloy for casting a copper alloy in a form of Cu: 40 to 80%, Zr: 0.5 to 35% and the balance of Zn; and Cu: 40 to 80%, Zr: 0.5 to 35%, P: 0.01 to 3% and the balance of Zn are used, and thus grain-refined copper alloy casting products are obtained.

Solid immiscible alloys and methods for making the solid immiscible alloys are provided. The microstructure of the immiscible alloys is characterized by a minority phase comprising a plurality of particles of an inorganic material dispersed in a majority phase comprising a continuous matrix of another inorganic material. The methods utilize nanoparticles to control both the collisional growth and the diffusional growth of the minority phase particles in the matrix during the formation of the alloy microstructure.