Iron additive for alloying non-ferrous alloys

Abstract

The present invention concerns additives for non-ferrous, liquid metals. The additives consist of compacted bodies of essentially pure iron particles.

1 . An additive for non-ferrous, liquid metals, characterised in that the additive consists of compacted bodies of essentially pure particles of atomised or sponge iron.  
     
     
         2 . The additive according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the compacted body has a density of at least 4, preferably at least 5 g/cm 3 .  
     
     
         3 . The additive according to any one of claims  1  or  2 , characterised in that the compacted body does not include any auxiliary agents such as fluxing agents or binding agents.  
     
     
         4 . The additive according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , characterised in that the particles are sponge iron particles including between 0.3 and 2.0%, preferably between 0.5 and 1.5% by weight of oxygen, and between 0.02 and 0.75%, preferably 0.05 and 0.5% by weight of carbon.  
     
     
         5 . The additive according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , characterised in that the particles are sponge iron particles including 0.1 and 1.5%, preferably between 0.15 and 1.0% by weight of oxygen, and between 0.0001 and 0.2%, preferably 0.002 and 0.15% by weight of carbon.  
     
     
         6 . The additive according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , characterised in that the iron particles are atomised iron particles including 0.03 and 1.5, preferably between 0.1 and 1.0% by weight of oxygen, and between 0.0001 and 0.20, preferably between 0.002 and 0.15% by weight of carbon,  
     
     
         7 . The additive according to any one of the preceding claims, charaterised in that the compacted body has the form of a flake.  
     
     
         8 . The additive according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is added to a liquid metal selected from the group consisting of Al, Cu, Cu based alloys, preferably aluminium.  
     
     
         9 . The additive according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the compacted body has a thickness between 0.5 and 4 mm and a size of at least 50 mm 2 , preferably at least 100 mm.  
     
     
         10 . The additive according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the compacted body has a green strength of at least 5 MPa.  
     
     
         11 . Use of a compacted body according to any of the preceding claims as an additive for non-ferrous, liquid metals such as aluminium.  
     
     
         12 . Method of allaying iron into aluminium comprising the steps of adding compacted bodies of essentially pure particles of atomised or sponge iron according to any one of  claims 1  to  10  to a molten bath of aluminium and subjecting the obtained mixture to blending during a period sufficient for complete dissolution of the bodies.