摘要 |
An apparatus and method for producing a rapidly solidified ingot characterized by a fine scale microstructure capable of precipitating uniformly dispersed fine particles. A charge of material (26) is placed in a crucible (14) and heated by a furnace (12) to melt the charge (26). The melt is discharged from the crucible (14) in a stream (74) along a pouring axis. An ingot mold (16) is oriented at an angle with respect to the pouring axis so that the stream (74) is received in the mold (16). As the melt is being poured into the mold (16), the mold (16) is rotated about its central axis at a predetermined speed to continuously shear, both circumferentially and downwardly, a thin layer of melt (78) from the stream (74) as the stream contacts the sidewall surfaces of the mold (16). The thin layer (78) is rapidly solidified by the rapid extraction of heat through the mold (16) and is formed, as said ingot mold (16) fills and successive layers are solidified, into an ingot having a fine microstructure capable of developing uniformly dispersed fine particles. |