Method and apparatus for isolating a metallic compound within a molten bath
US5385598A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jan 31, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P10/20
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A molten metallic composition containing an undesirable concentration of a metallic element is heated in a vessel whose depth is greater than its width. The vessel is heated to have a temperature gradient such that the upper region of the vessel is at a greater temperature than the lower region(s). When the metallic element to be removed from the molten composition reaches a desired saturation level in the liquid metallic composition, the temperature gradient is reversed causing the formation of an intermetallic compound containing the metallic element. The intermetallic compound precipitates out as a solid material thereby facilitating its removal. The intermetallic content at the lower regions of the vessel are also controlled so that their composition contains a significantly reduced amount of the metallic element which has been precipitated out of the upper region. The method may be employed to alter concentrations at levels of metallic material in which an intermetallic compound is formed having a density greater than the liquid metallic composition. This method concludes with the step of "freezing" the molten material to retain the desired concentrations at different regions …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.