Passivated titanium aluminide tooling

In a method of making a metal matrix composite wherein ceramic reinforcement particles are mixed in a semi-solid slurry comprising aluminum and its alloys, the improvement comprising mixing said particles in said slurry using a mixer blade tooling selected from the group consisting of a passivated titanium aluminide compound and alloy having a surface oxide film formed in-situ thereon by contact at elevated temperature with an oxygen-bearing atmosphere.

In a method of making a die casting wherein a melt comprising aluminum is introduced into a shot sleeve and injected into a die by a plunger, the improvement comprising introducing said melt into the die selected from the group consisting of a passivated titanium aluminide compound and alloy having a surface oxide film formed in-situ thereon by contact at elevated temperature with an oxygen-bearing atmosphere.

In a method of making an extrusion wherein a heated body comprising aluminum is forced through an extrusion die, the improvement comprising forcing said body through said die selected from the group consisting of a passivated titanium aluminide compound and alloy having a surface oxide film formed in-situ thereon by contact at elevated temperature with an oxygen-bearing atmosphere.

In a method of making a casting wherein a melt comprising aluminum is introduced through a molten metal filter into a mold, the improvement comprising positioning said molten metal filter in a holder selected from the group consisting of a passivated titanium aluminide compound and alloy having a surface oxide film formed in-situ thereon by contact at elevated temperature with an oxygen-bearing atmosphere.