Thixomat, Inc.

Ralph E Vining

Raymond F Decker

D Matthew Walukas

Rich Newman

Robert D Carnahan

Robert Kilbert

Charles VanSchilt

Stephen E LeBeau

Jack Huang

Sanjay G Kulkarni

Chris Pedder

Ron Akers

A method of forming a wrought material having a refined grain structure is provided. The method comprises providing a metal alloy material having a depressed solidus temperature and a low temperature eutectic phase transformation. The metal alloy material is molded and rapidly solidified to form a fine grain precursor that has fine grains surrounded by a eutectic phase with fine dendritic arm spacing. The fine grain precursor is plastic deformed at a high strain rate to cause recrystallization without substantial shear banding to form a fine grain structural wrought form. The wrought form is then thermally treated to precipitate the eutectic phase into nanometer sized dispersoids within the fine grains and grain boundaries and to define a thermally treated fine grain structure wrought form having grains finer than the fine grains and the fine dendritic arm spacing of the fine grain precursor.

Method and apparatus of forming a wrought material having a refined grain structure

An apparatus for molding a metal material. The apparatus includes a vessel with portions defining a passageway through the vessel. An inlet is located toward one end and a member or agitation means is located within the passageway. A plurality of heaters are located a length of the vessel. The first of the heaters is located immediately downstream of the inlet and is a low frequency induction coil heater whereby the temperature gradient through the vessel's sidewall is minimized.

Apparatus for molding metals

A vessel for processing feed stock material into molten or semi-molten state. The vessel includes a body defining an interior surface, an inlet, for receiving the feed stock material and an outlet discharging the material. The sidewall of the body comprises three layers, referred to as the shell, an intermediate layer and a liner. The intermediate layer is disposed between the shell and the liner and is formed of material softer than the materials forming the shell and the liner. The presence of the intermediate layer minimizes the thermal gradient along the thickness of the barrel.

Apparatus for molding molten materials

An apparatus for processing feed stock into a thixotropic state. The apparatus includes a barrel with first, second and nozzle sections. The first, second and nozzle sections are connected together and include surfaces that cooperatively defining a central passageway through the barrel. The first section is constructed of a first material, the second end section is constructed of a second material and the nozzle is constructed of a third material. The first material exhibits a greater resistance to thermal fatigue and thermal shock than the second material while the nozzle section includes a bushing which inhibits heat transfer to the die, precluding excessive molding pressures and cycle times. The apparatus also includes a preheater for preheating the feed stock before entry into the barrel, a thermal gradient monitoring system, a novel robust nozzle construction, and a two-stage embodiment of the apparatus.

Thermal shock resistant apparatus for molding thixotropic materials

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Brooklyn, MI, United States of America

Ralph E Vining