Article and method for treating molten metal bath

Abstract

Metallic particles capable of causing iron or other desired first metal to break free from its oxide are coated with a refractory that inhibits incineration of the metallic particles. The coated metallic particles are added to the molten metal bath as a means for treating the molten metal bath by increasing the yield of the first metal from the bath.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating a molten metal bath containing oxides of a first metal product to be produced, the method comprising: 
 introducing into the molten bath particles of a second metal substantially coated with a refractory sufficient to inhibit instantaneous combustion of said particles wherein said second metal has a greater affinity for forming an oxide thereof than said first metal.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , said refractory comprising at least one of a metallic oxide and a metallic carbide.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , said metallic oxide comprising at least one of the group consisting of calcium oxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon dioxide, iron oxide, ferric oxide, zirconium dioxide and barium oxide.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , said metallic carbide comprising at least one of the group consisting of calcium carbide, silicon carbide and boron carbide.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said refractory is applied to said particles by means of a binder.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , said binder comprising at least one of the group consisting of portland concrete cement and calcium aluminate.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said refractory comprises from about 2% to about 60% by weight of a combined weight of the said particles and said refractory.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first metal is iron.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said second metal is aluminum.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first metal is iron and said second metal is aluminum.  
     
     
         11 . An article of manufacture for treating a molten metal bath, the article comprising: 
 at least one metallic particle coated with a refractory for inhibiting combustion of said at least one metallic particle.    
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 11 , said refractory comprising at least one of a metallic oxide and a metallic carbide.  
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12 , said metallic oxide comprising at least one of the group consisting of calcium oxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon dioxide, iron oxide, ferric oxide, zirconium dioxide and barium oxide.  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 12 , said metallic carbide comprising at least one of the group consisting of calcium carbide, silicon carbide and boron carbide.  
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 11 , further comprising a binder for promoting adherence of said refractory to said particles.  
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 15 , said binder comprising at least one of the group consisting of portland concrete cement and calcium aluminate.  
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein said refractory comprises from about 2% to about 60% by weight of a combined weight of the said particles and said refractory.  
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 11 , said at least one metallic particle comprising aluminum.