A method for making an equiaxed investment casting. The method utilizes an ultrasonic generator to send an ultrasonic pulse into molten metal in an investment casting mold. The investment casting mold is positioned within a working zone of furnace having low output induction coils for generating a convection current in molten metal. The ultrasonic pulse separates dendrites growing from the face of the mold inward into the molten metal. Instead, equiaxed grains can nucleate within the molten metal. In addition, the ultrasonic pulse and the low output induction coils circulate the molten metal as solute is rejected from solidifying equiaxed grains. The mixing reduces the effects of segregation in the solidifying alloy and assists in nucleating equiaxed grains.

A method for making an equiaxed investment casting. The method utilizes an ultrasonic generator to send an ultrasonic pulse into molten metal in an investment casting mold. The investment casting mold is positioned within a working zone of furnace having low output induction coils for generating a convection current in molten metal. The ultrasonic pulse separates dendrites growing from the face of the mold inward into the molten metal. Instead, equiaxed grains can nucleate within the molten metal. In addition, the ultrasonic pulse and the low output induction coils circulate the molten metal as solute is rejected from solidifying equiaxed grains. The mixing reduces the effects of segregation in the solidifying alloy and assists in nucleating equiaxed grains.

A counter gravity casting apparatus includes a reusable metal mold having a plurality of mold cavities, a feed tube configured to feed molten alloy into the mold, and a vacuum fitting configured to permit a vacuum to be applied to the mold. The mold includes multiple metal sections configured such that adjacent metal sections mate to one another, the metal sections being separable from one another. The metal sections include recesses that form the mold cavities, and the mold includes a sprue and multiple runner passages. The sprue is configured to receive molten alloy from the feed tube, and the multiple runner passages are configured to feed molten alloy from the sprue to the mold cavities. Methods of casting bulk amorphous alloy articles or feedstock is described.

For the purpose of providing a method of die cast product of spheroidal graphite cast iron and a die cast product of spheroidal graphite cast iron having the number of spherical graphites of 3000/mm.sup.2 or more in an as cast state, there is disclosed a method of die cast product of ultrafine spheroidal graphite cast iron, including the steps of: a melting step of heating and melting raw materials made of cast iron to obtain source melting metal; a spheroidizing treatment step in which a spheroidizing treatment is performed; an inoculation step of inoculating; and a casting step of casting in a die mold. The amount of nitrogen is adjusted so that the amount of nitrogen generated in the time of melting becomes 0.9 ppm (mass) or less.

For the purpose of providing a method of die cast product of spheroidal graphite cast iron and a die cast product of spheroidal graphite cast iron having the number of spherical graphites of 3000/mm.sup.2 or more in an as cast state, there is disclosed a method of die cast product of ultrafine spheroidal graphite cast iron, including the steps of: a melting step of heating and melting raw materials made of cast iron to obtain source melting metal; a spheroidizing treatment step in which a spheroidizing treatment is performed; an inoculation step of inoculating; and a casting step of casting in a die mold. The amount of nitrogen is adjusted so that the amount of nitrogen generated in the time of melting becomes 0.9 ppm (mass) or less.

An alloy modifying agent for use in preparing a metal semisolid slurry, where the components and mass ratio thereof is silicon:iron:copper:manganese:magnesium:zinc:titanium:lead:aluminum having a mass ratio of (6.05-6.95):(0.15-0.45):(0.12-0.65):(0.002-0.006):(0.001-0.5):(0.025-0.05):(0.0 02-0.08):(0.002-0.06):(90.5-93.2). Also, a method for preparing the alloy modifying agent and a method for using the alloy modifying agent. The alloy modifying agent is capable of increasing the solid-liquid ratio and the spherical crystal content of the semisolid slurry, increasing the preparation efficiency of the semisolid slurry and the quality of the slurry, and ensuring the quality of a final die casting product.

An alloy modifying agent for use in preparing a metal semisolid slurry, where the components and mass ratio thereof is silicon:iron:copper:manganese:magnesium:zinc:titanium:lead:aluminum having a mass ratio of (6.05-6.95):(0.15-0.45):(0.12-0.65):(0.002-0.006):(0.001-0.5):(0.025-0.05):(0.0 02-0.08):(0.002-0.06):(90.5-93.2). Also, a method for preparing the alloy modifying agent and a method for using the alloy modifying agent. The alloy modifying agent is capable of increasing the solid-liquid ratio and the spherical crystal content of the semisolid slurry, increasing the preparation efficiency of the semisolid slurry and the quality of the slurry, and ensuring the quality of a final die casting product.

A mould for casting a component in a directional solidification casting process having a preferred direction of grain growth (non-axial <001>) comprises a shell defining a cavity for receiving molten material. The cavity defines a three dimensional shape made up of a finished component geometry portion (42, 43, 44) and a sacrificial geometry portion (45) wherein the sacrificial geometry portion (45) includes a notch (48) which is shaped and positioned so as to, in use, contain high angle grain boundaries between dendritic growth in the preferred direction (non-axial <001>) and dendritic growth in a competing direction to the preferred direction (axial <001>) within the sacrificial geometry portion of a casting solidifying in the mould.

A mould for casting a component in a directional solidification casting process having a preferred direction of grain growth (non-axial <001>) comprises a shell defining a cavity for receiving molten material. The cavity defines a three dimensional shape made up of a finished component geometry portion (42, 43, 44) and a sacrificial geometry portion (45) wherein the sacrificial geometry portion (45) includes a notch (48) which is shaped and positioned so as to, in use, contain high angle grain boundaries between dendritic growth in the preferred direction (non-axial <001>) and dendritic growth in a competing direction to the preferred direction (axial <001>) within the sacrificial geometry portion of a casting solidifying in the mould.

A method of manufacturing a Ni alloy casting, includes a casting step of casting molten Ni alloy by pouring the molten Ni alloy into a cavity of a mold, a columnar grain forming step of forming columnar grain by solidifying the molten Ni alloy while drawing the mold, in which the molten Ni alloy has been poured, at a drawing speed of 100 mm/hour or more but 400 mm/hour or less with a temperature gradient provided to a solid-liquid interface, and an equiaxed grain forming step of forming equiaxed grain by solidifying the molten Ni alloy while drawing the mold at a drawing speed of 1000 mm/minute or more continuously after the columnar grain forming step.