Plasma Induction Melting of High Nickel Alloys
1977 Volume 63 Issue 13 Pages 2236-2245
Details
1977 Volume 63 Issue 13 Pages 2236-2245
The plasma arc melting process had been researched and developed in Daido Steel Co., Ltd. since 1963 and a 0.5t plasma induction furnace (PIF) of nearly industrial scale was installed in Central Research Laboratory of Daido Steel Co., Ltd. in spring, 1969.
In this report, the refining characteristics of this furnace are described when low alloy steels, stainless steels, Ni-base magnetic alloys and high Mn electronics alloy are melted.
The effectiveness of this furnace was confirmed from the view-point of both quality and cost, especially in case of Ni-base magnetic alloys.
The reasons are:
1) Return scrap can be used without great operational difficulties.
2) Decarburization down to 0.01% C is easy and so is other composition controls.
3) Sulfur which is harmful for hot workability and oxygen which makes magnetic properties deteriorated can be removed very easily if a flux is used in argon atmosphere.
