Patent ID: 6918427
Filing Date: 2005-07-19
Classification: B22D,C22C,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of producing a metal component from a liquid metal alloy composition, comprising: forming a liquid metal alloy composition that is free of solid material; positioning a quantity of the liquid metal alloy composition in a holding vessel; inserting a graphite agitator into the liquid metal alloy composition in the holding vessel; agitating the liquid metal alloy composition with the graphite agitator while cooling the metal alloy composition to initiate solidification and form a non-dendritic semi-solid slurry; ceasing agitation and removing the graphite agitator from the non-dendritic semi-solid slurry after the solids content of the slurry has risen to a value of from about 1% to about 20% by weight; cooling the non-dendricic semi-solid slurry without agitation until the solids content has risen to a value of from about 10% to about 65%; and transferring the non-dendritic semi-solid slurry having a solids content of from about 10% to about 65% to a component forming apparatus and shaping the transferred material into a desired metal component.