Iron alloys, process and apparatus for introducing highly reactive metals into molten metal and process and product for removing impurities from molten metal

Abstract

Magnesium bullets are shot into molten Ferrous alloys in a ladle to react with oxygen and sulfur to form magnesium gas and slag. Boron and ferro-boron bullets are also employed with magnesium bullets. The resulting iron alloys have superior physical properties. The machine which discharges the bullets into the ladle includes a first solenoid actuated gate supporting the lowermost bullet in a column of additive bullets received in a tubular upright magazine of an air gun so as to release the bullets by gravity, one at a time, into the chamber of the air gun. The air gun is disposed over a container of molten metal. A second solenoid actuated gate releasably supports the bullet in the chamber and a solenoid actuated valve in a compressed air line releases the air to drive the bullet down through the barrel of the gun and into molten metal. The angle of the counce can be varied. The arrangement is particularly useful for introducing magnesium into white iron and introducing boron into gray steel. Other metals can also be introduced in this fashion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.