Learning nugget: Treatments of molten metal

SUMMARY:

Liquid metal treatment is the addition of specific products to the melt to guide its evolution during the solidification process.

In iron casting, the most common treatments performed on the molten metal are: desulfurization, deoxidation, and deslagging. This are followed by recarburization, which consists of adjusting the carbon content in the metal’s chemical composition by adding graphite or another type of recarburizing agent. Subsequently, an inoculation treatment is also performed, which increases the metal’s nucleation power and increases the number and distribution of graphites, positively affecting the material’s properties. Finally, and as a specific case in the manufacture of spheroidal or compact cast iron, a spheroidization or nodulization treatment is performed.

These treatments carried on the metal during its molten state are fundamental and define the characteristics of the material. When applying one or the other, the desired chemical composition, the way the graphite will precipitate, and the final metallurgical quality of the metal must be taken into account.

INDEX:

1. INTRODUCTION
2. MELTING AREA
3. SPHEROIDIZATION TREATMENT AREA
4. POURING UNIT
5. MOLDS FILLING

(*) This training session dedicated to TREATMENTS OF MOLTEN METAL phase is part of the “Introduction Iron Casting” series, which consists of 13 short videos lasting between 15 and 40 minutes.