METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COMPONENT FROM PARTIALLY SOLIDIFIED METAL SLURRY

摘要

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for rapidly producing a fully dense, near net-form metal component from partially solidified metal slurry. A source of metal alloy slurry is provided and maintained under conditions to maintain the slurry state, for example by shearing at a temperature between a liquidus and solidus thereof. The slurry is dispensed through a source nozzle and deposited upon a substrate or upon previously dispensed slurry in a predetermined, controlled manner to produce a component of desired geometry. The substrate may be planar or contoured and may comprise an element of the component being produced. A temperature, pressure or chemical composition controlled deposition environment may be provided to facilitate producing a component having desired characteristics.