Claims
- 1. A method of forming a magnetostrictive alloy including the steps of:
- (a) casting said alloy in a heated mold;
- (b) providing a temperature gradient in said mold;
- (c) solidifying said alloy in said mold to form a solidified alloy; and
- (d) plastically deforming said alloy by hot working.
- 2. The method of claim 1, including the step of covering said solidified alloy prior to hot working.
- 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:
- (d) growing said alloy in the <110>direction.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the alloy is comprised of a composition whose atomic ratio is expressed by:
- Re Fe.sub.p
- where 1.7.ltoreq.p.ltoreq.2.2 and Re is one or more rare earth elements selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mold is equipped with a heater to heat the side of the mold and a cooling plate at the bottom of the mold.
- 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the material of the cooling plate is selected from a group consisting of Fe and Cu.
- 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the cooling plate is water cooled.
- 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mold has a narrow opening in the bottom of the mold.
- 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the mold has a pouring basin at the end of the opening.
- 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the material of the mold is selected from a group consisting of alumina, BN, MgO, CaO, and carbon.
- 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the mold is smooth.
- 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the mold is coated with a separating agent.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the separating agent is BN.
- 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the side of the mold is heated at the eutectic temperature of the magnetostrictive material or above.
- 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the side of the mold is heated within a range from the eutectic temperature of the magnetostrictive material to a temperature of 100.degree. C. more than the melting point of the material.
- 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the side of the mold is heated with a temperature gradient from the upper portion to the lower portion.
Priority Claims (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
3-35522 |
Feb 1991 |
JPX |
|
3-62333 |
Mar 1991 |
JPX |
|
3-265663 |
Oct 1991 |
JPX |
|
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 07/830,569, filed Feb. 4, 1992 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,337.
US Referenced Citations (4)
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Name |
Date |
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4609402 |
McMasters |
Sep 1986 |
|
4770704 |
Gibson et al. |
Sep 1988 |
|
5067551 |
Murakami et al. |
Nov 1991 |
|
5110376 |
Kobayashi et al. |
May 1992 |
|
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number |
Date |
Country |
282059 |
Sep 1988 |
EPX |
0405362 |
Jan 1991 |
EPX |
60-9855 |
Jan 1985 |
JPX |
61-33892 |
Feb 1986 |
JPX |
62-109946 |
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JPX |
63-2424422 |
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JPX |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
830569 |
Feb 1992 |
|