Evaluation apparatus for cleanliness of metal and method thereof

An evaluation apparatus for cleanliness of a metal, comprising:

• a metal levitation-melting means comprising:
• a water-cooled metal crucible comprising a plurality of segments divided in a circumferential direction, and having an open upper surface and a closed lower surface;
• an induction coil, for passing a high frequency current, disposed in such a manner as to encompass said water-cooled metal crucible;
• and
• a non-oxidizing atmosphere container;
• handling means for taking out a metal melted and solidified by said levitation-melting means from said water-cooled metal crucible, moving said metal, and capable of setting said metal to a predetermined analysis position;
• and
• energy dispersion type fluorescent X-ray means for analyzing non-metallic inclusions accumulating on the surface of said metal.

An evaluation apparatus for cleanness of a metal, comprising:

• a metal levitation-melting means comprising:
• a water-cooled metal crucible comprising a plurality of segments divided in a circumferential direction, and having an open upper surface and a closed lower surface;
• an induction coil for passing a high frequency current, disposed in such a manner as to encompass said water-cooled metal crucible;
• and
• a non-oxidizing atmosphere container;
• metal transferring means for taking out a metal melted and solidified by said levitation-melting means from said water-cooled metal crucible, and transferring said metal to predetermined processing means;
• and
• acid-dissolving or electrolyzing means for extracting non-metallic inclusions concentrated on the surface of said metal melted and solidified by said processing means.

An evaluation apparatus for cleanliness of a metal, comprising:

• a metal levitation-melting means comprising:
• a water-cooled metal crucible comprising a plurality of segments divided in a circumferential direction, and having an open upper surface and a closed lower surface;
• an induction coil for passing a high frequency three-phase alternating current for imparting a repulsion moving upward on the surface of a molten metal along the wall of said crucible while levitating and melting said metal thereinside, disposed in such a manner as to encompass said water-cooled metal crucible;
• and
• luminance difference/area conversion means for analyzing non-metallic inclusions accumulating on the upper surface of said metal melted and solidified by said levitation-melting means.