Damped product with an insert having a layer including graphite thereon and methods of making and using the same

A method comprising:

• making a damped product comprising providing a damping substrate;
• forming a layer comprising graphite over at least a portion of the damping substrate;
• providing a body portion of the product and positioning the body portion and the damping substrate so that the layer comprising graphite is interposed between the body portion and the damping substrate.

A method of making a damped product comprising:

• providing a damping substrate and forming a layer comprising graphite over at least a portion of the substrate, and casting metal over at least the portion of the damping substrate having the layer formed thereover, and wherein the layer has a thickness sufficient to prevent the molten metal from wetting and bonding to the damping substrate at the location of the layer and so that the damping substrate and the layer or materials contained therein act to dampen vibrations of cast metal or body portion.

A method comprising:

• providing a coating comprising particles over at least a portion of an insert;
• baking the coating to provide a solidified layer comprising the particles;
• coating molten metal over at least a portion of the layer and solidifying the metal so that at least a portion of the layer comprising the particles remains over the insert.