Method to decrease loss of aluminum and magnesium melts
AssigneeThe University of Chicago
InventorsJohn N. Hryn, Michael J. Pellin, Wallis F. Calaway, Jr., Jerry F. Moore, Gregory K. Krumdick
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Abstract
A method to minimize oxidation of metal during melting processes is provided, the method comprising placing solid phase metal into a furnace environ-ment, transforming the solid-phase metal into molten metal phase having a molten metal surface, and creating a barrier between the surface and the environment. Also provided is a method for isolating the surface of molten metal from its environment, the method comprising confining the molten metal to a controlled atmos-phere, and imposing a floating substrate between the surface and the atmosphere.
Claims17
A method to minimize oxidation of metal during melting processes, the method comprising:
- a) placing solid-phase metal into a furnace environment;
- b) transforming the solid-phase metal into molten metal phase having a molten metal surface;
- c) floating thermally conductive spheres on the surface, wherein the spheres are comprised of alloying constituents coating spheres of inert material;
- and
- d) allowing the constituents to form compounds on the molten metal surface while the spheres of inert material provide a physical barrier between the surface of the molten metal and the furnace environment.
A method for isolating the surface of molten metal from its environment, the method comprising:
- a) confining the molten metal to a controlled atmosphere;
- b) imposing a thermally conductive, floating substrate between the surface and the atmosphere, wherein the floating substrate comprises spheres of inert material coated with alloying constituents;
- and
- c) allowing the constituents to form compounds on the molten metal surface while the spheres of inert material provide a physical barrier between the surface of the molten metal and the controlled atmosphere.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.