Methods of adding reactive metals to form a remelting electrode

Abstract

A method is provided for adding reactive metals to a molten metal bath by forming said reactive metal into an elongated member, suspending said member generally lengthwise vertically of a mold and pouring metal to be treated into said mold, to make said formed member an integral part of the molten metal as it rises in the mold and is cooled.

We claim: 
     
       1. The method of forming a remelting electrode containing reactive metals to be subsequently remelted in one of the known remelt techniques comprising the steps of: a. forming said reactive metal to be added into an elongated member having a length substantially equal to the length of the remelting electrode;   b. suspending said formed reactive metal in a mold having a height equal to the length of the remelting electrode; and   c. pouring the molten metal to be treated around said formed reactive metal in said mold, whereby said reactive metal becomes an integral part of the formed remelting electrode for subsequent remelting.   
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the formed reactive metal is dissolved into the molten metal to be treated as said molten metal is poured into the mold. 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the molten metal is solidified around the formed reactive metal leaving the reactive metal as an integral core. 
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the formed reactive metal is in the form of a tube filled with an alloy of said reactive metal. 
     
     
       5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mold is purged with an inert gas prior to filling with molten alloy. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5 wherein the inert gas is argon. 
     
     
       7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reactive metal is lanthanum or an alloy of lanthanum. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1 wherein the reactive metal is yttrium or an alloy of yttrium. 
     
     
       9. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reactive metal is formed into an elongated rod in a compatible matrix. .Iadd. 10. Method of forming a remelting electrode comprising a first metal and reactive metal to be remelted subsequently, said method comprising: a. forming said reactive metal into an elongated member having a length substantially equal to the length of the remelting electrode;   b. postioning said formed reactive metal in a mold having a height at least equal to the height of the remelting electrode;   c. pouring molten first metal into said mold around said formed reactive metal;   d. solidifying said molten first metal in said mold around said formed reactive metal thereby to form said remelting electrode. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. Method as in claim 10 wherein said formed reactive metal is positioned in said mold with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mold. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. Method as in claim 11 wherein the longitudinal axis of the formed reactive metal is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the mold. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. Method as in claim 10 wherein during the performance of step (c), portions of said formed reactive metal are dissolved in said molten first metal. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. Method as in claim 10 wherein after completion of step (d), said reactive metal remains as an integral core of the remelting electrode. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. Method as in claim 10 wherein, in performing step (a), said reactive metal is inserted into a tube. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. Method as in claim 10, further comprising:   e. prior to performing step (c), purging said mold with an inert gas. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 17. Method as in claim 10, wherein the reactive metal is selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, alloys of lanthanum, yttrium and alloys of yttrium. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. Method as in claim 10 wherein, in performing step (a), said reactive metal is combined with a compatible matrix. .Iaddend.