Methods for making refractory crucibles for melting titanium alloys

A method for making a refractory crucible for melting titanium alloys comprising:

• providing a form;
• applying at least a first facecoat layer and a second facecoat layer to the form to produce a facecoat, each of the first facecoat layer and second facecoat layer comprising an oxide selected from the group consisting of scandium oxide, yttrium oxide, hafnium oxide, a lanthanide series oxide, and combinations thereof;
• and
• applying at least one backing layer to the facecoat
• wherein the crucible has an overall wall thickness of from about 6.5 mm to about 40 mm.

A method for making a refractory crucible for melting titanium alloys comprising:

• providing a form;
• applying at least a first facecoat layer and a second facecoat layer to the form to produce a facecoat, each of the first facecoat layer and second facecoat layer comprising an oxide selected from the group consisting of scandium oxide, yttrium oxide, hafnium oxide, a lanthanide series oxide, and combinations thereof, and each of the first facecoat layer and second facecoat layer having a stucco layer applied thereto;
• applying a backing having from two to ten backing layers to the facecoat to produce a crucible mold, each of the backing layers having a stucco layer applied thereto;
• removing the form from the crucible mold;
• and
• firing the crucible mold to produce a crucible for melting titanium alloys
• wherein firing the crucible mold comprises a first firing at a temperature of from about 800° C. to about 1400° C. for from about 0.5 hours to about 50 hours followed by a second firing at a temperature of from about 1400° C. to about 1800° C. for from about 0.5 hours to about 50 hours.