CPC B22D 27/04 (2013.01) [B22D 27/045 (2013.01); C30B 11/14 (2013.01); C30B 29/52 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. A casting method comprising:
forming a seed, the seed having a first end and a second end and an inner diameter (ID) surface and an outer diameter (OD) surface;
placing the seed second end in contact or spaced facing relation with a chill plate;
contacting the first end with molten material; and
cooling and solidifying the molten material so that a crystalline structure of the seed propagates into the solidifying material,
wherein:
the forming of the seed includes applying a melting point depressant to a seed precursor along at least a portion of the seed contacted with the molten material.
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