Patent ID: 7766071

Claim:
A method of providing a contained charge of semi-solid metal alloy for use in a process for forming an article, the method including: introducing a charge of a molten metal alloy into a container configured to be supported in a shot sleeve of a die-casting machine; allowing the molten metal alloy to reach a semi-solid state in the container; and supporting the container with the metal alloy in a semi-solid state in the shot sleeve of the die-casting machine, wherein the container includes: an elongated body defining a side wall of the container, a mouth at a first end of the body and an opening at a second end of the body remote from the mouth; and a closure member closing the opening at the second end of the body, the closure member being configured to be displaceable by a plunger of the die-casting machine along an interior volume of the body from the second end towards the first end to displace the charge of semi-solid metal alloy through the mouth at the first end of the body, and the closure member being of a metal alloy the same as or similar to the charge of metal alloy and having a melting point which is not less than the temperature of the molten metal alloy introduced into the container.