An acoustic rotary liquid processor coupled with high-intensity ultrasonic vibration, rotary stiffing, gas purging, and melt surface stabilizing is described. The processor can be used for the synthesis of particulate reinforced composite materials, scavenging dissolved gases in molten materials, and preparation of a slurry containing a small fraction of non-dendritic solid particles for semi-solid material processing.

Exemplary embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for forming a coating layer at least partially on surface of a BMG article formed of bulk solidifying amorphous alloys. In embodiments, the coating layer may be formed in situ during formation of a BMG article and/or post formation of a BMG article. The coating layer may provide the BMG article with surface hardness, wear resistance, surface activity, corrosion resistance, etc.

Disclosed herein are gas control systems and associated methods of controlling gas in a mold in casting, such as aluminum casting. The system may have a first mass controller, a second mass controller, and a control device capable of switching the gas control system between a first operating state and a second operating state. The first mass controller and the second mass controller may have different flow rate ranges. In the first operating state, the gas control system may deactivate one of the first or second mass controllers, and in the second operating state, the gas control system may activate both first and second mass controllers.

A directional solidification apparatus includes a mold heating chamber, a solidification chamber, and a gas source. The solidification chamber is adjacent the mold heating chamber for solidifying molten metal formed from an air melt allow system as a cast body as the metal is withdrawn from the mold heating chamber. The gas sources is in fluid communication with the mold heating chamber for providing a pressurized atmosphere for directionally solidifying metal as cast body having single crystal or multi-crystal columnar micro structure.

A portal axle as well as a method for manufacturing a portal axle for a rail vehicle, which has an axle centre part extending along a longitudinal axis and two kingpins one of which sits on a first end section of the axle centre part and a second on a second end section of the axle centre part formed opposite to the first end section. The kingpins are oriented away from the axle centre part and form an axis of rotation in use for a rail wheel rotatably mounted on the respective kingpin. The portal axle has optimised usage properties with minimised weight. This is achieved by a longitudinal opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the portal axle being formed in at least one of the mould components. The invention further provides a method for manufacturing an axle of this type.

An acoustic rotary liquid processor coupled with high-intensity ultrasonic vibration, rotary stirring, and melt surface stabilizing is described. The processor can be used for the preparation of slurry containing a small fraction of non-dendritic solid particles for semi-solid material processing.

A portal axle as well as a method for manufacturing a portal axle for a rail vehicle, which has an axle centre part extending along a longitudinal axis and two kingpins, one of which sits on a first end section of the axle centre part and a second on a second end section of the axle centre part formed opposite to the first end section. The kingpins are oriented away from the axle centre part and form an axis of rotation in use for a rail wheel rotatably mounted on the respective kingpin. The portal axle has optimised usage properties with minimised weight. This is achieved by a longitudinal opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the portal axle being formed in at least one of the mould components. The invention further provides a method for manufacturing an axle of this type.