Patent · US Expired

Measuring magnesium concentrations in molten metal alloys

US5632881A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
4References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 16, 1995
Grant dateMay 27, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 16, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N27/4114
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A simple robust sensor probe for determining the magnesium concentration in molten metal alloys in real-time. The probe provides needed process control information in molten metal technologies and has particular application to processes for removing magnesium impurities from scrap aluminum. The probe employs a specially constructed electrochemical concentration cell adapted for repeated immersions into vessels containing molten metal alloys. Specifically, the probe comprises two electrodes, both inert to a molten salt layer, to the molten metal (aluminum), and to magnesium. One electrode comprises an inverted molybdenum cup, a magnesium reference material, and a fibrous ceramic wick, e.g., yttrium oxide, for retaining molten salt therein in contact with the magnesium reference material when the sensor probe is first inserted into the molten salt layer and then into the molten aluminum layer. A readout between the two electrodes provides a measure of the electromotive force and thus a measure of the concentration of magnesium in molten aluminum during demagging of the molten aluminum.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.