Mould lubricant
AssigneeCast Centre Pty Ltd
InventorsCheryl Richards, Stephen Ronald Peck, Phillip Wilmott Baker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for preparing a mould lubricant for use in direct chill casting of reactive metals, including magnesium, magnesium alloys, aluminum, and aluminum alloys, proceeds through combining a casting lubricant and a gaseous oxidation-inhibiting agent in a vessel external from the mold under vacuum conditions. The casting lubricant is selected from a variety of casting oils and casting greases. The gaseous oxidation-inhibiting agent is selected from a variety of inert gases, including sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).
Claims14
A process for forming a mould lubricant comprising an oil or grease casting lubricant and a gaseous oxidation-inhibiting agent to be used in the direct chill casting of a reactive metal through a cooled mould, comprising:
- (a) placing an oil or grease casting lubricant in an external vessel under vacuum conditions;
- (b) introducing a gaseous oxidation-inhibiting agent into the external vessel under vacuum conditions until atmospheric pressure is reached, whereby the gaseous oxidation-inhibiting agent contacts and becomes absorbed in the casting lubricant to thereby form the mould lubricant.
A method for the direct chill casting of a reactive metal through a cooled mould, wherein molten metal is fed of a direct chill casting apparatus to the cooled mould and a cast metal strand is withdrawn therefrom, the improvement of which comprises:
- (a) placing an oil or grease casting lubricant in an external vessel under vacuum conditions;
- (b) introducing a gaseous oxidation-inhibiting agent into the external vessel under vacuum conditions until atmospheric pressure is reached, whereby the gaseous oxidation-inhibiting agent contacts and becomes absorbed in the casting lubricant to thereby form a mould lubricant;
- and
- (c) transferring the mould lubricant from the external vessel into the direct chill casting apparatus and contacting it to the surface of the mould prior to commencement of casting.
A process for preparing a mould lubricant for use in direct chill casting of a reactive metal through a direct chill mould, the mould lubricant comprising a casting lubricant and a gaseous oxidation-inhibiting agent and the process comprising combined the casting lubricant and the gaseous oxidation-inhibiting agent externally of the mould for subsequent delivery to the mould.
A method for lubricating a direct chill mould in the direct chill casting of a reactive metal, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing a mould lubricant comprising a casting lubricant and a gaseous oxidation-inhibiting agent by combining the casting lubricant and the gaseous oxidation-inhibiting agent externally of the mould;
- and
- (b) delivering the mould lubricant to the mould for lubrication thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.