DIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS

摘要

A directional solidification apparatus includes a mold heating chamber, a solidification chamber, and a gas source. The solidification chamber is adjacent the mold heating chamber for solidifying molten metal formed from an air melt allow system as a cast body as the metal is withdrawn from the mold heating chamber. The gas source is in fluid communication with the mold heating chamber for providing a pressurized atmosphere for directionally solidifying metal as a cast body having single crystal or multi-crystal columnar micro structure.