(19)

(11)

EP 0 973 621 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 26.01.2000 Bulletin 2000/04 (21) Application number: 98910478.1 (22) Date of filing: 13.03.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B22C 7/02, B22D 18/04, B22D 19/00, B22D 27/04, B22D 29/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US9805/294 (87) International publication number: WO 9841/340 (24.09.1998 Gazette 1998/38)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 19.03.1997 US 328038 (71) Applicant: METALLAMICS, INC Traverse City, MI 49686 (US)	(72) Inventors: McDONALD, Robert R. Traverse City,MI 49684 (US) JONES, William O. Midland,MI 49640 (US) (74) Representative: Barendregt, Frank, Drs.  van Exter Polak & Charlouis B.V.,P.O. Box 3241 2280 GE Rijswijk 2280 GE Rijswijk (NL)