Patent ID: 8714235

Claim:
A high-temperature die casting die comprising: a first die plate with a first recess; and a second die plate with a second recess, the first and second recesses defining a main part cavity and gating; a grain selector in fluid communication with the main cavity; and an in situ zone refining apparatus adapted to apply a localized thermal gradient to at least one of the first and second die plates, the localized thermal gradient and the die plates movable relative to each other so as to apply the localized thermal gradient along a first direction extending from the grain selector longitudinally across the main part cavity; wherein the localized thermal gradient induces a movable solidification front in a metal disposed in the main part cavity such that a portion of the metal above the solidification front remains above a γ/γ′ solvus temperature of the metal as the localized thermal gradient is applied along the first direction.