ingot
An ingot is a large piece of metal which is cast into a specific shape suitable for subsequent operations, such as rolling, forging, or extrusion. Ingots serve as the raw materials for production of metal products and are produced in various sizes and compositions depending on industrial requirements.
Key Features:
- Casting: Molten metal is poured into molds, solidified into ingots, and then reheated to be further worked down into sheets, bars, or structural components.
- Material Composition: Ingot is made in a variety of metals, including steel, aluminum, copper, and titanium, depending on the application. The addition of alloying elements may be used to enhance the specific properties required.
- Common Applications: Using in industries such as automotive (steel and aluminum products), aerospace (high-strength alloys), and construction (structural steel and reinforcement materials).
The ingots are critical to metalworking and manufacturing. The steel ingots are processed into sheets and beams for construction and heavy machinery. The aerospace titanium ingots give rise to lightweight high-strength components for aircraft. New casting methods have improved ingot quality through innovations like continuous casting and vacuum refining; this renders them crucial for modern engineering applications that require high performance and precision.
