Howmet Corporation

United Technologies Corporation

Howmet Research Corporation

Bart M Kilinski

Paul R Aimone

Stephen Chin

John R Brinegar

Mark L Soderstrom

Donald R Parille

Eliot S Lassow

Brad J Murphy

Paul R Johnson

Robert L McCormick

Keith D Ramthun

William B Carothers

Method and apparatus for prolonging the stability (working life) of a ceramic slurry and other aqueous mixture or dispersion containing a liquid silica-bearing or other component as well as the raw liquid silica-bearing component in ambient air over time by providing a gas blanket that reduces exposure to ambient air.

Increasing stability of silica-bearing material

Molten metallic material is cast into a mold that is made with a barrier to reduce gas permeability through a mold wall that forms on its innermost side a mold surface for contacting the molten metallic material. The molten metallic material is gravity cast into the mold residing in a furnace in a casting chamber under a first pressure, such as subambient pressure. Then, a gaseous pressure is provided in the casting chamber higher than the first pressure rapidly enough to reduce or eliminate the presence of localized voids in the casting solidified in the mold.

Investment casting with improved melt filling

The oxidation resistance of a superalloy casting such as an equiaxed, directionally solidified, or single crystal casting, is improved by melting, pouring, or casting the alloy so as to react with a magnesium or calcium-bearing ceramic material. Magnesium or calcium is introduced into the alloy through a controlled reaction between the alloy and the magnesium or calcium-bearing ceramic material.

Oxidation resistant superalloy castings

A high melting point and/or low ductility metal or alloy is investment cast in a refractory mold including a facecoat layer and a plurality of back-up layers wherein at least one back-up layer is a relatively weak, sacrificial layer. This latter layer is crushed as necessary as the casting cools below its ductile-to-brittle transition temperature to avoid hot tearing or cracking of the solidified metal or alloy during cooling in the mold.

Complaint investment casting mold and method

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Montague, MI, United States of America

Bart M Kilinski