(19)
(11) EP 1 331 279 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
02.01.2004 Bulletin 2004/01

(43) Date of publication A2:
30.07.2003 Bulletin 2003/31

(21) Application number: 02028272.9

(22) Date of filing: 29.05.1996
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7C22C 1/00, B22D 17/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT

(30) Priority: 29.05.1995 JP 13013495
27.06.1995 JP 16089095
14.09.1995 JP 23650195
22.09.1995 JP 24410995
22.09.1995 JP 24411195
26.09.1995 JP 24789795
27.09.1995 JP 24948295
29.09.1995 JP 25276295
29.09.1995 JP 25276895
29.09.1995 JP 25276995
09.11.1995 JP 29076095
08.12.1995 JP 32065095
21.12.1995 JP 33295595
10.04.1996 JP 8784896

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
96108499.3 / 0745694

(71) Applicant: Ube Industries, Ltd.
Ube-shi, Yamaguchi (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Adachi, Mitsuru, Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Oaza Kogushi, Ube-shi, Yamaguchi (JP)
  • Sasaki, Hiroto, Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Oaza Kogushi, Ube-shi, Yamaguchi (JP)
  • Harada, Yasunori, Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Oaza Kogushi, Ube-shi, Yamaguchi (JP)
  • Sakamoto, Tatsuo, Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Oaza Kogushi, Ube-shi, Yamaguchi (JP)
  • Sato, Satoru, Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Oaza Kogushi, Ube-shi, Yamaguchi (JP)
  • Yoshida, Atsushi, Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Oaza Kogushi, Ube-shi, Yamaguchi (JP)

(74) Representative: Strehl Schübel-Hopf & Partner 
Maximilianstrasse 54
80538 München
80538 München (DE)

   


(54) Method and apparatus for shaping semisolid metals


(57) The improved method and apparatus for the semisolid forming of alloys to enable shaped parts having a fine-grained, spherical thixotropic structures to be produced in a convenient, easy and inexpensive manner without relying upon the conventional mechanical or electromagnetic agitation. In the method, a liquid alloy having crystal nuclei at a temperature not lower than the liquidus temperature or a partially solid, partially liquid alloy having crystal nuclei at a temperature not lower than a molding temperature is fed into an insulated vessel having a heat insulating effect, held in said insulated vessel for a period from 5 seconds to 60 minutes as it is cooled to the molding temperature where a specified fraction liquid is established, thereby crystallizing fine primary crystals in the alloy solution, and the alloy is fed into a forming mold, where it is shaped under pressure.





Search report