System and method for using metal-wrapped carbon-containing powders in a vacuum induction melting furnace

Abstract

A vacuum induction melting (VIM) furnace and method of using. A VIM is configured for use with metal-containing carbon powders. In operation, the metal-containing carbon powders are formed into a pellet so as to minimize or eliminate ejection of material during introduction of the pellet into the VIM processor. The VIM processor may be substituted or used in combination with a vacuum arc melt processing apparatus, an electron beam melt furnace, an ion plating furnace, a plasma flame source, a smelter, a traditional metal-metal melt furnace, or any equivalent. Pelletizing can be accomplished through use of a press or through application of any pelletizing technique and/or use of any apparatus that is able to generate pellets that have sufficient mass to avoid ejection from a VIM processor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.