Patent ID: 7705233

Claim:
A method for producing a filled skutterudite-based alloy containing a composition of RT 4 Sb 12 , comprising: melting alloy raw material comprising a rare earth metal R that is at least one species selected from among La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Yb, a transition metal T that is at least one species selected from among Fe, Co, Ni, Os, Ru, Pd, Pt and Ag, and metallic antimony Sb at a temperature of 800 to 1,800° C. to form a melt; and rapidly quenching the melt at a cooling rate of 5×10 2 to 3×10 3 ° C./second, as measured within a range of the temperature of the melt to 800° C. through strip casting wherein the rapid quenching forms a solidified alloy containing a filled skutterudite phase in an amount of at least 95 mass %; and collecting the solidified alloy into a receiving box.