Self generated protective atmosphere for liquid metals

Abstract

An improved method of manufacturing a cast part by sand casting, permanent mold casting, investment casting, lost foam casting, die casting, or centrifugal casting, or a powder metal material by water, gas, plasma, ultrasonic, or rotating disk atomization is provided. The method includes adding at least one additive to a melted metal material before or during the casting or atomization process. The at least one additive forms a protective gas atmosphere surrounding the melted metal material which is at least three times greater than the volume of melt to be treated. The protective atmosphere prevents introduction or re-introduction of contaminants, such as sulfur (S) and oxygen (O2), into the material. The cast parts or atomized particles produced include at least one of the following advantages: less internal pores, less internal oxides, median circularity of at least 0.60, median roundness of at least 0.60 and increased sphericity of microstructural phases and/or constituents.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.