A pair of nested handbags includes an outer handbag and an inner handbag that is contained within an inner compartment of the outer handbag. The outer handbag has a reversible body and thus offers two different appearances depending upon how the outer handbag is worn. The outer handbag includes first and second handles that are attached to the outer handbag is such a way that the handles have the same appearance when the outer handbag is worn in either the first or second appearance.

A sign holder device for the support and display of signage. The device includes a base, sign holder and a stem, the stem having a first end appended to the base and a second end supporting the sign holder. The stem has a length defined by the distance between its first and second ends, the length being adjustable to vary the distance between the base and sign holder.

Improvements in a foldable sign are disclosed. The sign provide a foldable “A” frame floor sign that folds for easy storage. The folding sign generally includes An “A” frame. The “A” frame provides a stable platform with multiple cross members that support the sign from wind or uneven surfaces. The “A” frame folds in two dimensions to create a dense elongated collapsed structure. The storage is by folding the structure at the apex of the “A” frame and bringing the sides together. Because the sign is flexible, the sign can be folded or wrapped around the collapsed frame. In this dense elongated collapsed structure the folding sign can be placed in an elongated storage bag. While the sign is folded for storage and transportation, when the sign is expanded it essentially resembles traditional “A” frame structures with the same overall dimensions.

An illuminated vehicular sign is provided including a vehicle and luminescent planar sheet. The luminescent planar sheet is constructed to provide illuminated alpha-numeric characters which are mounted to the horizontal planar surfaces of a vehicle. The alpha-numeric characters are mounted substantially horizontally so as to be seen from the air such as by helicopters or planes. The illuminated vehicle sign includes a switching system electrically connected to the luminescent planar panels for selectively controlling the transfer of power from said power source to the luminescent planar panels. The switching system including one or more adjustable variable resistors electrically connected to the luminescent planar panels for allowing one to selectively adjust the wattage provided to them.

Mobile signs/billboards designed to attach to the back end of a vehicle are disclosed comprising a mounting device that is mounted to the back end of a vehicle via the holes for fixing a license plate, and a sign or billboard supported by the mounting device. The signs are designed in a variety of shapes and sizes to provide a display for advertisement or personal messaging. The sign/billboard can be inserted or removed quickly from the mounting device. While the sign/billboard is supported by the mounting device at the back end of the vehicle, the license tag is affixed elsewhere on the mounting device for full viewing and lighting. The mounting device remains on the vehicle until easily removed whereupon the license plate can be reattached to the vehicle. The mounting device comprises an inner pocket for easy insertion and removal of signs and billboards. Lighting may be wired with the vehicle or use solar power or batteries to providing lighting for the sign/billboard.

The invention relates to a messaging sign apparatus with informative indicia moveable articles that externally display information regarding patient care. The messaging sign apparatus includes a frame, a movable article positionable within the frame, and fastening member that is engageable with the moveable article. The frame includes an article receiving section on an inner body thereof and an article receiving opening on an outer surface and leading into the article receiving section, with the moveable article positioned in the article receiving section and moveable through the article receiving opening. The fastening member is arranged on the frame and engageable with the moveable article to secure the moveable article within the frame into different displaying position.

An advertising apparatus including a body portion adapted to be one or both of connected to or disposed on a support structure accessible for advertising purposes and, an interchangeable and/or replaceable advertising device, the advertising device being adapted to be one or both of connected to or disposed on the body portion.

A road sign, for viewing by primary traffic and right-angled traffic comprises a sign plate having a first indicia representative of the sign's message directed to the primary traffic and a lateral member having a second indicia. In a preferred embodiment, the lateral member has suitable dimensions, is suitably positioned relative to the sign plate and has suitable second indicia so as to give the appearance, when viewed by right-angled traffic, that a portion of the sign plate was bent substantially perpendicular to the sign's normal orientation along substantially the vertical axis of the sign. Additional embodiments are also provided.

A portable movie screen includes a screen portion and a frame portion surrounding at least part of the periphery of the screen portion. The screen portion has a screen gain greater than about 0.8 and an elasticity greater than an elasticity of the frame portion. The movie screen includes at least one side connected to the front portion and a receiving space defined at least in part by the front portion and the side portion. The receiving space is configured to selectively receive a support body including at least one sealed chamber and movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The frame portion is configured such that when the support body is in the expanded configuration and positioned in the receiving space, the frame portion tensions the screen portion and substantially maintains the screen portion in a desired shape.

The invention relates to a device for identifying an animal, comprising a male part and a female part which are intended to be joined together, said female part comprising a head (12) for holding a tip of said male part, and a rigid shell (11) containing electronic identification means (42). According to the invention, a resin (41) is placed inside a housing defined in said shell so as to cover said electronic means (42) and to secure said head (12) to said shell (11).

A lighted sign for a passenger vehicle includes a decal affixed to an exterior of a window and a lamp housing affixed to an interior surface of the vehicle window immediately opposite the decal. The lamp housing includes an electronics module that illuminates the decal only when the vehicle is moving and when there is insufficient exterior light to clearly see the exterior decal. The decal and design are removable and replaceable.

A physically-discrete sign component comprises an internally-electrically-illuminated alphabetic character having a front-facing profile and at least one connecting bar disposed at least substantially horizontally with respect to the front-facing profile of the alphabetic character and at least partially within the front-facing profile of that alphabetic character. By one approach the physically-discrete sign component includes two of the connecting bars. If desired, these two connecting bars are disposed at least substantially parallel to one another. By one approach, a first one of the connecting bars extends partially, but not wholly, above an upper periphery of the aforementioned front-facing profile while the second connecting bar extends partially, but not wholly, below a lower periphery of the front-facing profile. The connecting bars can include a connecting-bar interface configured to physically and electrically interconnect to an adjacent sign component.

A safety sign system comprises one or more traffic or informational signs, an expandable pole, a detachable umbrella canopy assembly, and a safety finial assembly. The signs are removably attached to a sleeve that surrounds a portion of a pole and rests upon a sign support. The sleeve with the signs attached swivels about the pole. The umbrella canopy assembly is attached to an upper end of the pole and may include additional features including reflective tape, vents, drop-down flaps, reflective coating, and lights. The safety finial assembly is removably attached to the top of the umbrella canopy assembly and may include flag supports, removable flags, and a safety light assembly. The safety sign system optionally further comprises a collapsible seat, a beverage holder, a satellite tracking device, a communication device, a base, and a control panel for operating the safety light and other features.

A self-supporting sign of unitary construction comprises a middle portion having a first side, a second side, an upper side, and a lower side. A first foldable flap extends from the first side at a first distance beneath the upper side. A second foldable flap extends from the second side at a second distance beneath the upper side. A front foldable portion having a rounded perimeter extends from the lower side. In a use configuration, the middle portion forms an obtuse angle with respect to the front portion. A first slit is provided adjacent the first side and a second slit is provided adjacent the second side. The first and second slits are configured to aid in the respective folding of the first flap and the second flap with respect to the middle portion.

A poster clamp comprising first and second members, the members comprising first and second gripping surfaces, respectively, for gripping opposing sides of a poster or a like, and a poster mounting system comprising a hoarding and a plurality of such clamps, and a wire on which the clamps are to be mounted for tightening a poster within the frame of the hoarding.

A dishwashing detergent composition is provided for consumer use for in cleaning of alkaline sensitive metals such as aluminum or aluminum containing alloys. The compositions include alternatives to sodium tripolyphosphate and/or other phosphorus containing raw materials, while retaining cleaning performance and corrosion prevention. According to the invention, a phosphinosuccinic acid oligomer or mixture thereof is used as a corrosion inhibitor and can be included for aluminum protection in a number of different detergent compositions.

Methods for cleaning a side edge of a thin film photovoltaic substrate utilizing a laser are provided. The method can include transporting the substrate in a machine direction to move the substrate past a first laser source, and focusing a first laser beam generated by the first laser source onto the side edge of the substrate such that the laser beam removes the thin film present on the side edge of the substrate. An apparatus is also generally provided for cleaning a first side edge and a second side edge of a thin film photovoltaic substrate.

A substrate processing apparatus that includes a process tank having a pair of opposed sidewalls for storing a chemical liquid, and processing a plurality of substrates by the chemical liquid; a substrate holding mechanism including a holding part for holding the plurality of substrates, and a back part connected to the holding part and interposed between the substrates held by the holding part and one sidewall of the pair of opposed sidewalls when the substrate holding mechanism is loaded into the process tank. A heating device is disposed on the process tank for heating the stored chemical liquid. The heating device includes at least a first heater disposed on the one sidewall, and a second heater disposed on the other sidewall of the pair of opposed sidewalls. Energy outputs of the first heater and the second heater are independently controlled.

A cleaning/disinfecting apparatus includes: a plurality of attachment portions for attaching an endoscope; a cleaning/disinfecting portion that communicates with the plurality of attachment portions and can execute different types of cleaning/disinfection menus for the respective attachment portions; and an endoscope information reading portion that reads endoscope information from the endoscope. Also, the cleaning/disinfecting apparatus includes: a control portion that determines a cleaning/disinfection menu based on the read endoscope information and outputs attachment portion identifying information for identifying an attachment portion for executing the determined cleaning/disinfection menu; and a notifying portion that notifies the attachment portion identifying information outputted from the control portion.

Substrate treatment systems are provided. The substrate treatment systems may include a treating device configured to treat a substrate with a supercritical fluid, and a supplying device configured to supply the supercritical fluid to the treating device. The treating device may include a supercritical process zone in which the substrate is treated with the supercritical fluid, and a pre-supercritical process zone in which the supercritical fluid is expanded and then provided into the supercritical process zone to create a supercritical state in the supercritical process zone.

A nozzle of a nozzle device includes an arm pipe that extends in a horizontal direction and a downstream pipe formed so as to curve downward from one end of the arm pipe. In the nozzle, a metallic pipe is provided inside a second resin pipe. Moreover, a first resin pipe is provided inside the metallic pipe. A boss is attached to the tip of the metallic pipe between the first resin pipe and the second resin pipe. At the tip of the nozzle, an outer peripheral surface of the first resin pipe, an end surface of the second resin pipe and an end surface of the boss are welded by welding resin. In this way, the metallic pipe is reliably coated with the first resin pipe, the second resin pipe, the boss and the welding resin.

Provided is a method for cleaning the inside of a pressure tight container for a blasting treatment, wherein the inside of a pressure tight container can be cleaned for a short period of time after a blasting treatment. The method is comprised of a setting process wherein a cleaning blast (1) capable of cracking a part of a residual substance remaining on the inside of a pressure tight container (10), and a solid separating material (2) which collides with a substance bonded to an inner wall surface (32a) of the pressure tight container (10), to separate the bonded substance from the inner wall surface (32a) of the pressure tight container (10), are set on the inside of the pressure tight container (10); and a separation process wherein the cleaning blast (1) blasts on the inside of the pressure tight container (10), to crack a part of the residual substance remaining on the inside of the pressure tight container (10), and the separating material (2) is divided into a plurality of granular elements by the blast, so that the granular elements are spread, and collide with the bonded substance to remove the bonded substance.

A cleaning device may include a solution tank configured to store cleaning solution. The solution tank may include an inlet and an outlet. The cleaning device may include at least one discharge line filter in fluid communication with the solution tank and a pump having a pump intake and a pump discharge. The pump may be configured to direct cleaning solution from the solution tank outlet through the at least one discharge line filter. The cleaning device may include a cleaning head in fluid communication with the pump discharge and a bypass line in fluid communication with the pump discharge and the inlet. The bypass line may be configured to divert cleaning solution received from the pump discharge away from the cleaning head and toward the solution tank.

A surface treatment composition of the present invention contains a first surfactant, a second surfactant, a basic compound, and water. The surface treatment composition has a pH of 8 or more. The second surfactant has a weight-average molecular weight one-half or less that of the first surfactant. The sum of the content of the first surfactant and the content of the second surfactant is 0.00001 to 0.1% by mass.

Water treatment compositions are provided that are effective for mitigating corrosion or fouling of surfaces in contact with aqueous systems. The water treatment compositions can include one or more azole compounds, one or more transition metals, and one or more dispersants, in addition to various other additives. The water treatment compositions can exclude phosphorus and still be effective. Methods for mitigating corrosion or fouling of a surface in an aqueous system are also provided.

A method for processing a plurality of substrates after forming a photosensitive film on each substrate includes carrying each substrate into a placement buffer including a plurality of supporters by a first transport mechanism; taking out each substrate from the placement buffer to an interface by a second transport mechanism; carrying each substrate into the exposure device; carrying each substrate out of the exposure device into the placement buffer by the second transport mechanism; taking out each substrate from the placement buffer to the processing section by the first transport mechanism; performing development processing on each substrate; making each substrate stand by at the placement buffer based on timing at which the exposure device can accept each substrate; and making each substrate stand by at the placement buffer based on timing at which the developing device can accept each substrate.

A dishwasher includes a dishwashing compartment and a rack provided in the dishwashing compartment for holding items to be cleaned. A rotatable spray arm is associated with the rack for applying water or wash liquor liquid upon the items. Water or wash liquor liquid is supplied to the spray arm via an upright supply tube having at least one region which flares in a direction of the spray arm and a peripheral terminal end facing the spray arm. The terminal end of the supply tube is configured to project into the cavity and thereby is extended into the spray arm.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include cleaning processes, closed loop cleaning machines, and methods of cleaning an article. The cleaning process includes contacting a surface of an article with a cleaning composition in a cleaning chamber, where the cleaning composition includes at least about 85 percent by weight organic solvents, based on total weight of the cleaning composition, and where at least about 5 percent by weight of the organic solvents is propylene glycol, based on total weight of the organic solvents, to clean the surface of the article, collecting the cleaning composition including contaminants, and recovering the cleaning composition via distillation, where a distillation apparatus removes the contaminants from the cleaning composition and is connected to the cleaning chamber by a process stream.

A dishwasher having a washing compartment; an air-guiding channel to generate an airflow; and a sorption drying system to dry items to be washed. The sorption drying system has a sorption compartment with reversibly dehydratable sorption material and the sorption compartment is connected to the washing compartment by the air-guiding channel. The reversibly dehydratable sorption material in the sorption compartment is layered in form of a sorption unit that has an inlet cross-sectional area such that the substantially identical respective air volume flow value that is applied to each entry point of the inlet cross-sectional area.

The invention meets the needs above by providing a surfactant system, mixture or blend that can be used as a part of a soaking composition. The surfactant system is capable of forming emulsions with, and thus removing, oily and greasy stains. In a preferred embodiment the surfactant compositions of the invention can remove non-trans fat and fatty acid stains. The invention involves foaming soaking compositions that have some or part of the anionic surfactant present in the same replaced with an extended chain anionic surfactant.

Strategies for tool designs and their uses wherein the tools can operate in either closed or open modes of operation. The tools easily transition between open and closed modes on demand. According to one general strategy, environmentally controlled pathway(s) couple the ambient to one or more process chambers. Air amplification capabilities upstream from the process chamber(s) allow substantial flows of air to be introduced into the process chamber(s) on demand. Alternatively, the fluid pathways are easily closed, such as by simple valve actuation, to block egress to the ambient through these pathways. Alternative flows of nonambient fluids can then be introduced into the process chamber(s) via pathways that are at least partially in common with the pathways used for ambient air introduction. In other strategies, gap(s) between moveable components are sealed at least with flowing gas curtains rather than by relying only upon direct physical contact for sealing.

A body, such as a pick tool for cutting coal, includes a steel substrate and a hard face structure fused to the steel substrate. The hard face structure includes at least 1 weight percent Si, at least 5 weight percent Cr and at least 40 weight percent W. Substantially the balance of the hard face structure includes carbon and an iron group metal M selected from Fe, Co, Ni and alloy combinations of these elements. The hard face structure includes a plurality of elongate or platelike micro-structures having a mean length of at least 1 micron, a plurality of nano-particles having a mean size of less than 200 nanometers, and a binder material.

A dressing blade for finishing and reconditioning new and used abrasive grinding and cutting tools has a slab-shaped shank with an extension protruding longitudinally from the shank. Superabrasive grains are disposed on the surface of the extension and held in place by a brazed metal composition. This composition is formed by brazing a powdered mixture of brazing metal components and active metal components. Specific extension configurations are provided which allow aligning the superabrasive grains in single layer arrangement for precise dressing and simple fabrication of the tool. The novel dressing tool exhibits excellent wear characteristics.

An apparatus, a system and a method may use a diamond-impregnated wire loop to cut an underwater pipeline. The apparatus may have a frame, a carriage attached to the frame and/or pulleys connected to the carriage. The diamond-impregnated wire loop may be connected to the pulleys. The carriage may move relative to the frame to direct the diamond-impregnated wire loop in a forward direction relative to the frame and/or through the pipeline.

A hand-operated implement has a guide bar on which is fitted a cutting chain for cutting mineral and metal materials. The cutting chain is driven around the guide bar by a chain sprocket. The chain sprocket is arranged in a chain sprocket chamber which is delimited by a chain sprocket cover. A cutting element has an outer side facing a sidewall of the chain sprocket cover which lies in a first notional plane. The distance between the sidewall and the first notional plane measured perpendicular to the first notional plane and centrally between the top of the cutting element and the peripheral wall is less than approximately 0.8 cm over at least 30% of the section between a second notional plane containing the central axis of a fixing bolt on the guide bar and the exit opening at which the cutting chain leaves the chain sprocket chamber.

The present invention provides a wire saw which cuts a workpiece using a cutting wire and is capable of adjusting wire tension with high responsiveness. The wire saw includes first and second workpiece cutting units 1A and 1B. Each of the workpiece cutting units 1A and 1B includes a pair of guide rollers 10a and 10b around which a wire W is wound to form a workpiece-cutting wire group. The wire saw further includes a tension detector 18 which detects tension in the wire W between the workpiece cutting units 1A and 1B, and a control device 50. The control device 50 changes a rotational speed of the guide rollers 10a and 10b of at least one of the workpiece cutting units based on the tension detected by the tension detector 18 so as to keep the tension within an acceptable range.

A method of ductile mode machining a component of a plasma processing apparatus wherein the component is made of nonmetallic hard and brittle material wherein the method comprises single point turning the component with a diamond cutting tool causing a portion of the nonmetallic hard and brittle material to undergo a high pressure phase transformation to form a ductile phase portion of the hard and brittle material during chip formation wherein a turned surface is formed from a phase changed material and the turned surface is a grooved textured surface of phase changed material.

A method of dressing a wheel using a polycrystalline CVD synthetic diamond dresser, the method comprising: rotating the wheel; and contacting a working surface of the wheel with a working surface of the polycrystalline CVD synthetic diamond dresser, wherein the polycrystalline CVD synthetic diamond dresser is oriented such that a leading edge of the working surface of the polycrystalline CVD synthetic diamond dresser is formed of larger grains than a trailing edge of the working surface of the polycrystalline CVD synthetic diamond dresser.

A method for slicing a workpiece into wafers in which a polyphosphate solution is applied to the workpiece during the slicing process. The method comprises the steps of positioning the workpiece, such as a silicon ingot, in the vicinity of a wire saw that can cut through the workpiece without the use of an abrasive slurry; causing an aqueous polyphosphate solution to contact the workpiece; and causing the wire saw to cut into the workpiece while the polyphosphate solution is in contact with the workpiece. After the workpiece has been cut into wafers, the polyphosphate solution is rinsed off of the wafers. Preferably, the wire saw used in this method is a diamond wire saw.

An apparatus, a system and a method may use a diamond-impregnated wire loop to cut an underwater pipeline. The apparatus may have a frame, a carriage attached to the frame and/or pulleys connected to the carriage. The diamond-impregnated wire loop may be connected to the pulleys. The carriage may move relative to the frame to direct the diamond-impregnated wire loop in a forward direction relative to the frame and/or through the pipeline.

The invention relates to a device for dressing a grinding wheel, comprising a sleeve to hold a corundum rod laterally and to guide it along its longitudinal axis, a ram to apply constant thrust force onto the corundum rod held in place and guided in the sleeve, to bring it into contact with the grinding wheel, means of rigidly connecting the ram shaft to the end of the corundum rod, and linear guide means for the sleeve for translating the corundum rod parallel to the axis of the grinding wheel while keeping the rod pressed against the grinding wheel with a constant force. Application to a centerless grinder in which the grinding wheel is used to grind nuclear fuel pellets.

A computer executing a software algorithm may be used to detect a depression in a temperature profile. The temperature profile may be smoothed to eliminate noise. Next, the temperature profile's center may be extracted. A polynomial may be fitted to extracted data. An algorithm used to fit the polynomial may guarantee that the fitted curve's peak may be below the actual temperature data's peak. Next, residuals may be calculated by subtracting the fitted curve from the actual data. If there is a dip at the center, then the residuals in the center may be less than zero. The software algorithm executing on the computer may then make a decision based on a sign of the residuals. For example, residuals less than zero may indicate bar porosity. Residuals above zero may indicate no porosity. The magnitude of the residuals may then be used to classify a size of a detected defect.

Metal alloy injection molding techniques are described. In one or more implementations, these techniques may also include adjustment of injection pressure, configuration of runners, and/or use of vacuum pressure, and so on to encourage flow of the metal alloy through a mold. Techniques are also described that utilize protrusions to counteract thermal expansion and subsequent contraction of the metal alloy upon cooling. Further, techniques are described in which a radius of edges of a feature is configured to encourage flow and reduce voids. A variety of other techniques are also described herein.

Various embodiments provide systems and methods for casting amorphous alloys. Exemplary casting system may include an insertable and rotatable vessel configured in a non-movable induction heating structure for melting amorphous alloys to form molten materials in the vessel. While the molten materials remain heated, the vessel may be rotated to pour the molten materials into a casting device for casting them into articles.

A receiving housing of a hydraulic tensioning device for a traction mechanism drive in an internal combustion engine, having an opening that extends along a longitudinal axis for receiving a piston that is implemented for deflecting a tensioning rail of the traction mechanism drive. The receiving housing is a cast component, and the opening comprises an inner contour having an inner surface that comprises at least first segments and inclines for removing the workpiece from the mold in the opening. The second segments include surfaces that are directed into the inside of the opening and are aligned in parallel with the longitudinal axis. A sliding core is also provided that has an outer contour that is complementary to the inner contour of the opening of the receiving housing and fits into the opening. A traction mechanism drive and tensioning device having a receiving housing of this type are also included.

Molten metal of a first composition is fed into a mold cavity, via a first control apparatus, wherein the control apparatus is open, wherein the feeding includes at least flowing out of a first feed chamber. The first control apparatus is closed. A second control apparatus is opened. Molten metal of a second composition is fed into the mold cavity, via the second control apparatus, wherein at least a portion of the metal of the first composition in the mold cavity is sufficiently molten so that an initial feed of molten metal of the second composition mixes with the molten metal of the first composition in the mold cavity, wherein the feeding includes at least flowing out of a second feed chamber, wherein the second composition is different from the first composition. An ingot is removed from the mold cavity, wherein the ingot as a top section, a middle section, and a bottom section, wherein the bottom section is composed of metal of the first composition, wherein the top section is composed of metal of the second composition, wherein the middle section is composed of a mixture of metal of the first composition and the second composition.

A multi-wall ceramic core for casting an airfoil with one or more internal cooling passages is made by preforming at least one fugitive core insert to have a joint-forming surface with a male and/or female joint feature and then forming at least one fugitive core insert in-situ adjacent and integrally connected and fused to the at least one preformed core insert at the joint-forming surface to form an interlocked, fused joint to form a composite core insert that includes features to form internal passage surfaces in the core when the composite core insert is removed. Another aspect involves preforming first and second fugitive core inserts to have respective joint-forming surfaces with respective snap-fittable joint features and assembling the first and second fugitive core inserts to form a composite core insert by snap fitting the snap-fittable joint features together to form an interlocked joint. The composite core insert is placed in a core molding die cavity, and a fluid ceramic material is introduced into the die cavity to form the ceramic core body incorporating the fugitive composite core insert therein.

Disclosed is an aluminum-diamond composite having both high thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient close to those of semiconductor elements, which is improved in platability in the surface and surface roughness so that the composite becomes suitable for use as a heat sink of a semiconductor element of the like. Specifically disclosed is a plate-like aluminum-diamond composite containing diamond particles and a metal mainly composed of aluminum. The aluminum-diamond composite is composed of a composite part and surface layers formed on both sides of the composite part, and the surface layers are composed of a material containing a metal mainly composed of aluminum. The diamond particle content is 40-70% by volume of the entire aluminum-diamond composite.

A casting core resulting from alkaline earth metal oxide particles having an average particle size of 0.8-4 mm being dispersed in a water-soluble alkali metal salt matrix. The casting core can be efficiently produced using a method of dispersing alkaline earth metal hydroxide particles having favorable disintegration properties and a particle size in the range of 1-5 mm in a molten water-soluble alkali metal salt, converting to alkaline earth metal oxide particles by means of dehydration, and casting in a mold, cooling, and hardening.

Aluminum alloys are provided that have improved fluidity and elongation, as well as freedom of die soldering. The aluminum alloys are particularly suitable for die-casting of structural components. The aluminum alloy includes silicon at from about 8 weight % to about 11 weight %, manganese at from about 0.8 weight % to about 1.9 weight %, iron at from about 0.1 weight % to about 0.5 weight %, magnesium at from about 0.2 weight % to about 0.7 weight %, boron at from about 0.002 weight % to about 0.15 weight %, strontium at from about 0.006 weight % to about 0.017 weight %, less than about 0.25 weight % copper, less than about 0.35 weight % zinc, less than about 0.25 weight % titanium, and a balance of aluminum. Methods related to the aluminum alloys are also provided.