Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a manufacturing method, process, machine, and/or system for continuously consolidating granular materials, creating new alloys and/or composites, and/or modifying and/or refining material microstructure, by using plastic deformation of feedstock(s) provided in various structural forms. Materials produced during this process can be fabricated directly and/or in forms such as, e.g., wires, rods, tubes, sheets, plate and/or channels, etc.

Production of a bulk Al-RE alloy body (product) using cast billets/ingots (cooling rates <100 C/s) or rapidly solidified Al-RE particulates (cooling rates 10.sup.2-10.sup.6° C./second) that have beneficial microstructural refinements that are further refined by subsequent consolidation to produce a consolidated bulk alloy product having excellent mechanical properties over a wide temperature range such as up to and above 230° C.

The present disclosure provides a method of dual-phase hot metal extrusion comprising (i) providing a load carrier made of a first metal material, wherein the load carrier comprises one or more load chambers containing a second metal material, wherein the melting point of the second metal material is lower than the melting point of the first metal material, (ii) heating the load carrier to a temperature above the melting point of the second metal material and suitable for extrusion of the load carrier, and (iii) extruding the load carrier to form an extruded product. The present disclosure also provides apparatuses for accomplishing the dual-phase hot extrusion of metals and products resulting from such processes.

The present disclosure relates to an extrusion nozzle apparatus and a method for extruding a thermoelectric material using the extrusion nozzle apparatus. An extrusion nozzle apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: an inlet introducing material; an outlet discharging the input material; and a discharge pipe formed in a multi-stage shape including a plurality of stages, wherein the input material is pressurized inside the discharge pipe and moves in a first direction from the inlet toward the outlet. The cross-sectional area of the plurality of stages in a direction perpendicular to the first direction progressively decreases from the inlet to the outlet. Accordingly, the thermoelectric performance of a thermoelectric material may be improved, and production cost and production time may be reduced.

The present disclosure relates to an extrusion nozzle apparatus and a method for extruding a thermoelectric material using the extrusion nozzle apparatus. An extrusion nozzle apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: an inlet introducing material; an outlet discharging the input material; and a discharge pipe formed in a multi-stage shape including a plurality of stages, wherein the input material is pressurized inside the discharge pipe and moves in a first direction from the inlet toward the outlet. The cross-sectional area of the plurality of stages in a direction perpendicular to the first direction progressively decreases from the inlet to the outlet. Accordingly, the thermoelectric performance of a thermoelectric material may be improved, and production cost and production time may be reduced.

A billet transport device inserts a billet emerging from a billet heater into a container of an extrusion press device, and includes a conveyor transporting a billet from a billet heater, an overhead type billet carrier directly transporting a billet from the conveyor to a billet loader, and a billet loader transporting a billet from the outside to inside of the extrusion press device. Further, the billet loader is comprised of an insertion roller device inserting a billet into a container and a billet insertion device placed at the front end of the billet loader.

A billet transport device inserts a billet emerging from a billet heater into a container of an extrusion press device, and includes a conveyor transporting a billet from a billet heater, an overhead type billet carrier directly transporting a billet from the conveyor to a billet loader, and a billet loader transporting a billet from the outside to inside of the extrusion press device. Further, the billet loader is comprised of an insertion roller device inserting a billet into a container and a billet insertion device placed at the front end of the billet loader.

A container for use in a metal extrusion press comprises a mantle having an elongate body comprising an axial bore, an elongate liner accommodated within the axial bore, the liner comprising a longitudinally extending passage through which a billet is advanced, and a fluid channel in thermal communication with the mantle through which a fluid for cooling the container flows.

A container for use in a metal extrusion press comprises a mantle having an elongate body comprising an axial bore, an elongate liner accommodated within the axial bore, the liner comprising a longitudinally extending passage through which a billet is advanced, and a fluid channel in thermal communication with the mantle through which a fluid for cooling the container flows.

One or more hollow billets are loaded onto an elongate mandrel bar for extrusion. The billets are transported along the mandrel bar to a rotating die. The billets are transported through fluid clamps, which engage the mandrel bar and provide cooling fluid to the mandrel bar tip, and through mandrel grips, which engage the mandrel bar and prevent the mandrel bar from rotating. One or more press-rams advance the billets through a centering insert and into the rotating die. A quench assembly is provided at an extrusion end of the extrusion press to quench the extruded material. A programmable logic controller may be provided to control, at least in part, operations of the extrusion press system.