SMALL SIZE ELECTRIC ARC MELTING FURNACE

OPTIMUM SMELTING IN CONTROLLABLE MEDIUM

Fields Of Application
 

• Metallurgy of experimental alloys with special properties
• Precious metal alloys and manufacture of it trade sets for mechanical engineering, instrument making, aircraft and medical engineering

The Smelting Scheme

The smelting is carried out in copper water-cooled crystallizer in controllable atmosphere of inert and recovering gases by  means of an arc with a tungsten cathode	Vacuum arc melting

Features

• High-temperature (up to 3400 ^oC) adjustable smelting is carried out in a wide range of stabilized pressure of plasma-forming medium ( 1,3 ^. 10³ - 1,5 ^. 10⁵ Pa). It permits to purposely effect:
  • refining and degassing of metals
  • suppression of their vaporability
  • optimum modes of smelting of complex alloys
  • nitriding and surface treatment of the ingots
  • perspective physicochemical processes in metallurgy under the active influence of gas medium parameters
• The melting at low pressure (< 1,3 ^. 10⁴ Pa) is conducted in conditions of a special formed plasma energy structure with the power release density (which is controlled and distinctly localized in space) in the range of 10² - 10⁴ W/cm³. It permits:
  • to change smoothly the amount and density of energy, conducted to a heated metal at the constant discharge current value
  • to increase greatly the melting effect of the arc
  • to change considerably the plasma contact area with a metal
  • to carry out the smelting of metal powders (because of the low gas dynamic effect of the arc)
  • to reduce considerably the inert gas expenditure when metals with low degrees of vaporization are being smelt
  • to ensure high service life of the cathode at high discharge currents

   

Internal view of melting chamber	Microsection : difference in melting power

Furnace Design

The automatic Gas & Vacuum unit with control and measurement system realizes a preliminary pumping from the melting chamber, its filling with working gas up to required pressure and a stabilization of the chosen gas pressure during smelting. The small size Power Supply with the block of arc controlling provide the ignition of the arc by the high voltage break-down or the contact way and also the smooth regulation of the arc current. The Melting Chamber consists of: replaceable crystallizers of various shapes (for producing single or several ingots during one cycle of furnace working); original moving electro-vacuum input of the cathode unit (the cathode does not require external forced cooling); smoothly varying density of light filters for observation of the working process.

Technical Characteristics

Engineering Activity

• Manufacturing of small size furnaces
• Production and modifications of furnace at the customer's request

The Scientific Cooperation And The Joint R&D Works.

It should be chosen the following directions in such cooperation:

• The joint researches and the development of perspective metallurgical processes on the present equipment.

• The perfection of the furnace design for obtaining the new technical possibilities (for example, the electromagnetic mixing of metal at the smelting, the development of technological accompaniment).

Video Clips:

• Melting Process of Ti-Ni Composition
• Cathode Feedtrough
• Internal View of a Water Cooled Vacuum Melting Chamber

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