A method of separating one or more elements from an alloy includes subjecting a metal alloy to a stimulus to form an enriched material including the one or more elements and to form a depleted material. The enriched material is enriched in the one or more elements compared to the alloy and the depleted material is depleted in the one or more elements compared to the alloy. The method also includes removing the enriched material and the depleted material from one another.

A method of vacuum arc remelting an ingot provided in a crucible assembly having an electrode includes generating a rotating magnetic field normal to a longitudinal axis of the ingot and localized to an arc region during remelting. The rotating magnetic field interacts with a melting current to produce a rotating arc directed radially outward.

A vacuum arc remelting system for forming an ingot from an electrode is provided that includes a crucible assembly configured to accommodate the electrode and the ingot, an electromagnetic energy source arranged about the crucible assembly, and a lift mechanism operable to move the electromagnetic energy source along a longitudinal axis of the crucible assembly. A magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic energy source is localized to an arc region during remelting, and in one form, the electromagnetic energy source is a coil assembly having a magnetic core and a plurality of coil pairs wrapped around the core, wherein the coil assembly is operable to generate a magnetic field from the coil based on electric current flowing in the plurality of coil pairs.

A method of vacuum arc remelting an ingot provided in a crucible assembly having an electrode includes generating a rotating magnetic field normal to a longitudinal axis of the ingot and localized to an arc region during remelting. The rotating magnetic field interacts with a melting current to produce a rotating arc directed radially outward.

A vacuum arc remelting system for forming an ingot from an electrode is provided that includes a crucible assembly configured to accommodate the electrode and the ingot, an electromagnetic energy source arranged about the crucible assembly, and a lift mechanism operable to move the electromagnetic energy source along a longitudinal axis of the crucible assembly. A magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic energy source is localized to an arc region during remelting, and in one form, the electromagnetic energy source is a coil assembly having a magnetic core and a plurality of coil pairs wrapped around the core, wherein the coil assembly is operable to generate a magnetic field from the coil based on electric current flowing in the plurality of coil pairs.

Described herein is a method of producing an alloy. The method includes pouring a stream of molten mixture of component elements of the alloy, separating the stream into discrete pieces, solidifying the discrete pieces by cooling before the discrete pieces contact any liquid or solid. Also described herein is another method of producing an alloy. This method includes pouring and solidifying a stream of molten mixture of component elements of the alloy into a rod or pulling a rod from a molten mixture of component elements of the alloy, before the rod contacts any liquid or solid, separating the rod into discrete pieces. An apparatus suitable for carrying out the methods above can include a container from which the molten stream is poured or the solid rod extends, one or more coil, conductive plates, a laser source, or an electron beam source arranged around the molten stream or the solid rod and configured to separate the molten stream or the solid rod into discrete pieces.

The present invention relates to new compositions of matter, particularly metals and alloys, and methods of making such compositions. The new compositions of matter exhibit long-range ordering and unique electronic character.

Use of a laser beam (1) which has one external and one internal laser beam area (4,7) with different intensities enables a higher temperature gradient to be produced in the z-direction.