US3891425A - Desulfurization of transition metal alloys - Google Patents
Desulfurization of transition metal alloys Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3891425A US3891425A US446447A US44644774A US3891425A US 3891425 A US3891425 A US 3891425A US 446447 A US446447 A US 446447A US 44644774 A US44644774 A US 44644774A US 3891425 A US3891425 A US 3891425A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- calcium
- alloy
- nickel
- transition metal
- atmosphere
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C1/00—Making non-ferrous alloys
- C22C1/02—Making non-ferrous alloys by melting
- C22C1/023—Alloys based on nickel
Definitions
- ABSTRACT There is disclosed a process for desulfurizing transition metal alloys, particularly in a vacuum induction melting process where the absence of slag is desirable.
- the process is effected by adding any dilute calcium bearing binary alloy such as an alloy of calcium and nickel or an alloy of calcium and aluminum to the transition metal alloy while it is in the molten state and in contact with an atmosphere that is substantially free of oxygen.
- Transition metal alloys are those which contain substantial quantities of the elements iron, nickel and cobalt individually or in combination. Many methods for desulfurizing such alloys are known. Alloys prepared by induction vacuum melting present special problems because slag in an induction vacuum furnace is heated only by conduction which is so inadequate that a solid slag phase frequently forms.
- Calcium is known to react strongly with sulfur. However, it reacts more strongly with oxygen. Accordingly, if lime is employed as a desulfurizing agent, a very large amount of lime must be used which becomes a slag phase that is difficult to maintain molten in a vacuum induction furnace.
- This invention is a process whereby the desirable properties of calcium as a desulfurizing agent can be used while avoiding its undesirable characteristics.
- This invention is a process for desulfurizing transition metal alloys by treating a molten transition metal alloy while in contact with a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere with either an alloy of calcium and nickel or an alloy of calcium and aluminum.
- the process of this invention provides many advantages over prior art processes.
- the calcium in a dilute calcium-nickel alloy or a calcium-aluminum alloy is not extremely volatile so it can be introduced and maintained in contact with a molten transition metal alloy long enough for it to be effective in reacting with sulfur.
- substantially oxygen-free When used in metal in contact with a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere, there is little competition between oxygen and sulfur to react with calcium so that the calcium is used very effectively and sparingly to remove sulfur.
- substantially oxygen-free is used in the context of this description to define atmospheres obtainable in industry such as those in vacuum induction furnaces or in an inert gas blanketed process.
- Oxygen and sulfur compete for the available calcium in the process of this invention according to the mass action principle. Small, unavoidable residual amounts of oxygen can be tolerated. However, to use the process of this invention most effectively the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere over the molten metal should be as low as possible.
- the process can be further improved by deoxidizing the molten metal prior to treatment with calciumnickel or calcium-aluminum alloys. Depleting the oxygen in the molten transition metal alloy and in the atmosphere above it diminishes the total amount of calcium addition and correspondingly decreases the amount of calcium oxide that must be dealt with after the desired desulfurization is accomplished.
- a calcium-nickel alloy or a calciumaluminum alloy is selected will depend upon the character of the metal treated. If small amounts of aluminum will negatively influence the properties of the metal being treated, then a calcium-nickel alloy must be used and vice versa. Since most transition metal alloys can tolerate nickel, the calcium nickel alloy is the preferred desulfurizing medium of this invention.
- the preferred composition for calcium-nickel additions are those which have an atomic ratio of nickel to calcium of about 5. This atomic ratio is preferred because of the formation of an intermetalic compound that is quite stable so that vaporization of calcium is greatly retarded. This in turn provides high utilization of the calcium for desulfurization of the transition metal alloys.
- the process of this invention can be effected at the low pressures obtained in a vacuum induction furnace, it is preferred that an inert gas atmosphere be maintained in the furnace.
- Argon is the preferred inert gas because of its availability and ease of use although other inert gases may be used. Any pressure of inert gas is beneficial in inhibiting calcium volatilization, however pressures of least mm Hg and up to about 760 mm Hg may be used. Pressures of from 300 to 400 mm Hg are preferred.
- the process of this invention is especially useful in making alloys containing iron and nickel by vacuum induction melting techniques.
- the nickel added from the calcium-nickel alloy is of little consequence with regard to the total nickel content of such an alloy, and in any event it can be accommodated for in compositing the alloy to be treated.
- This invention is especially useful in making alloys called Superalloys, which are alloys predominately nickel.
- the process of this invention is effective to reduce the sulfur level of a transition metal alloy quickly from any reasonable starting level to less than 0.005% w.
- Example Idesulfurizing of three similar nickel-iron superalloys was effected in an experimental vacuum induction furnace holding about 15 pounds of material. Each heat was made from virgin materials and in each case an alloy of 10% w calcium in aluminum was employed as the desulfurizing agent. In all cases the alloy was melted in a furnace at a pressure of less than 20 microns, carbon deoxidized and the furnace chamber was backfilled with argon at the indicated pressure before the addition of the calcium-aluminum alloy. A sample of the alloy was taken 5 minutes after the calcium-aluminum alloy was added, and the final product was poured into an ingot mold 18 minutes after the calcium-aluminum alloy was added. Table 1 reports the results of these three heats.
- the additional heats were prepared in an experimental vacuum induction furnace holding 300 pounds of material. Rather than use virgin raw materials to make a virgin heat for experimentation as was done with the pound heats reported in Table 1, scrap of the same nickel-iron superalloy composition was employed to which about 0.015% sulfur was added. This is the level of sulfur obtained when ordinary, low cost raw materials are used.
- the desulfurizing medium was an alloy of calcium and nickel containing about 10% w calcium. The desulfurizing treatment was effected by adding enough of the calcium-nickel alloy to provide 0.03% w calcium in the furnace. Argon pressures as indicated were maintained in the furnace. In lngot No. 1 constant pressure of argon was employed; in lngot No.
- a process for desulfurizing a transition metal alloy comprising maintaining said alloy in a molten state, substantially in the absence of an oxygen-containing atmosphere and in contact with a calcium alloy selected from a calcium-nickel alloy and a calciumaluminum alloy.
- the calcium alloy is a calcium-nickel alloy having a nickel-to-calcium atomic ratio of about 5 or greater.
- transition metal alloy is an alloy containing at least one of nickel, iron, and cobalt and said calcium alloy is a calciumnickel alloy.
Abstract
Description
Claims (7)
Priority Applications (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US446447A US3891425A (en) | 1974-02-27 | 1974-02-27 | Desulfurization of transition metal alloys |
SE7500648A SE7500648L (en) | 1974-02-27 | 1975-01-21 | |
FR7501992A FR2262120B1 (en) | 1974-02-27 | 1975-01-22 | |
CA218,514A CA1036365A (en) | 1974-02-27 | 1975-01-23 | Desulfurization of transition metal alloys |
JP50016794A JPS50120415A (en) | 1974-02-27 | 1975-02-08 | |
GB660275A GB1462007A (en) | 1974-02-27 | 1975-02-17 | Desulphurization of transition metal alloys |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US446447A US3891425A (en) | 1974-02-27 | 1974-02-27 | Desulfurization of transition metal alloys |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3891425A true US3891425A (en) | 1975-06-24 |
Family
ID=23772621
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US446447A Expired - Lifetime US3891425A (en) | 1974-02-27 | 1974-02-27 | Desulfurization of transition metal alloys |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3891425A (en) |
JP (1) | JPS50120415A (en) |
CA (1) | CA1036365A (en) |
FR (1) | FR2262120B1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB1462007A (en) |
SE (1) | SE7500648L (en) |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4049470A (en) * | 1976-04-29 | 1977-09-20 | Special Metals Corporation | Refining nickel base superalloys |
US4612164A (en) * | 1984-11-01 | 1986-09-16 | Inco Alloys International, Inc. | Nickel copper alloys with enhanced malleability and improved sulfide distribution |
FR2587367A1 (en) * | 1985-04-26 | 1987-03-20 | Mitsui Shipbuilding Eng | PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF AN IRON, COBALT AND NICKEL ALLOY WITH LOW SULFUR, OXYGEN AND NITROGEN CONTENT |
EP0451385A1 (en) * | 1989-02-01 | 1991-10-16 | Metal Research Corporation | Method of manufacturing clean steel |
US5344510A (en) * | 1993-04-14 | 1994-09-06 | United Technologies Corporation | Method for removing sulfur from superalloy articles to improve their oxidation resistance |
US5346563A (en) * | 1991-11-25 | 1994-09-13 | United Technologies Corporation | Method for removing sulfur from superalloy articles to improve their oxidation resistance |
EP0860507A1 (en) * | 1997-02-25 | 1998-08-26 | Howmet Research Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) | Ultra low sulfur superalloy castings and method of making |
US6500283B1 (en) * | 1995-12-12 | 2002-12-31 | General Electric Company | Method of improving environmental resistance of investment cast superalloy articles |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4456481A (en) * | 1981-09-08 | 1984-06-26 | Teledyne Industries, Inc. | Hot workability of age hardenable nickel base alloys |
ATE28668T1 (en) * | 1983-03-08 | 1987-08-15 | Teledyne Ind | HOT WORKABILITY OF A NICKEL-BASED ALLOY WITH STRUCTURAL HARDENING. |
JPH0594193U (en) * | 1992-05-26 | 1993-12-21 | 松下電工株式会社 | Cushioning material, cushioning material, and packaging structure for vanity using the same |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3467167A (en) * | 1966-09-19 | 1969-09-16 | Kaiser Ind Corp | Process for continuously casting oxidizable metals |
US3575695A (en) * | 1967-10-18 | 1971-04-20 | Nippon Kokan Kk | Deoxidation method of molten steel |
US3622302A (en) * | 1968-02-15 | 1971-11-23 | Kobe Steel Ltd | Method for removing arsenic from metals or alloys |
US3695946A (en) * | 1971-11-24 | 1972-10-03 | Forges De La Loire Comp D Atel | Method of manufacturing oriented grain magnetic steel sheets |
US3767380A (en) * | 1970-05-29 | 1973-10-23 | Lenin Kohaszati Muvek | Process for the production of free-cutting carbon steels with special deoxidation |
-
1974
- 1974-02-27 US US446447A patent/US3891425A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1975
- 1975-01-21 SE SE7500648A patent/SE7500648L/xx unknown
- 1975-01-22 FR FR7501992A patent/FR2262120B1/fr not_active Expired
- 1975-01-23 CA CA218,514A patent/CA1036365A/en not_active Expired
- 1975-02-08 JP JP50016794A patent/JPS50120415A/ja active Pending
- 1975-02-17 GB GB660275A patent/GB1462007A/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3467167A (en) * | 1966-09-19 | 1969-09-16 | Kaiser Ind Corp | Process for continuously casting oxidizable metals |
US3575695A (en) * | 1967-10-18 | 1971-04-20 | Nippon Kokan Kk | Deoxidation method of molten steel |
US3622302A (en) * | 1968-02-15 | 1971-11-23 | Kobe Steel Ltd | Method for removing arsenic from metals or alloys |
US3767380A (en) * | 1970-05-29 | 1973-10-23 | Lenin Kohaszati Muvek | Process for the production of free-cutting carbon steels with special deoxidation |
US3695946A (en) * | 1971-11-24 | 1972-10-03 | Forges De La Loire Comp D Atel | Method of manufacturing oriented grain magnetic steel sheets |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4049470A (en) * | 1976-04-29 | 1977-09-20 | Special Metals Corporation | Refining nickel base superalloys |
US4612164A (en) * | 1984-11-01 | 1986-09-16 | Inco Alloys International, Inc. | Nickel copper alloys with enhanced malleability and improved sulfide distribution |
FR2587367A1 (en) * | 1985-04-26 | 1987-03-20 | Mitsui Shipbuilding Eng | PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF AN IRON, COBALT AND NICKEL ALLOY WITH LOW SULFUR, OXYGEN AND NITROGEN CONTENT |
US4820485A (en) * | 1985-04-26 | 1989-04-11 | Mitsui Engineering And Ship Building Co., Ltd. | Method of producing an iron-, cobalt- and nickel-base alloy having low contents of sulphur, oxygen and nitrogen |
EP0451385A1 (en) * | 1989-02-01 | 1991-10-16 | Metal Research Corporation | Method of manufacturing clean steel |
US5346563A (en) * | 1991-11-25 | 1994-09-13 | United Technologies Corporation | Method for removing sulfur from superalloy articles to improve their oxidation resistance |
US5344510A (en) * | 1993-04-14 | 1994-09-06 | United Technologies Corporation | Method for removing sulfur from superalloy articles to improve their oxidation resistance |
US6500283B1 (en) * | 1995-12-12 | 2002-12-31 | General Electric Company | Method of improving environmental resistance of investment cast superalloy articles |
EP0860507A1 (en) * | 1997-02-25 | 1998-08-26 | Howmet Research Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) | Ultra low sulfur superalloy castings and method of making |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPS50120415A (en) | 1975-09-20 |
FR2262120A1 (en) | 1975-09-19 |
CA1036365A (en) | 1978-08-15 |
SE7500648L (en) | 1975-08-28 |
GB1462007A (en) | 1977-01-19 |
FR2262120B1 (en) | 1978-07-13 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AL-INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, INC. 2700 TWO OLIVER PLAZA Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SPECIAL METALS CORPORATION A DE CORP;REEL/FRAME:004212/0061 Effective date: 19831229 Owner name: CITICORP INDUSTRIAL CREDIT, INC., BOND COURT BLDG. Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SPECIAL METALS CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004207/0501 Effective date: 19831223 |
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Owner name: ALLEGHENY INTERNATIONAL ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:AL- INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS INC.;REEL/FRAME:004379/0797 Effective date: 19850306 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., 101 PARK AVE., NEW YORK, N Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SPECIAL METALS CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004756/0171 Effective date: 19870827 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SPECIAL METALS CORPORATION Free format text: RELEASED BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CITICORP INDUSTRIAL CREDIT, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004764/0322 Effective date: 19870825 |
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Owner name: SPECIAL METALS CORPORATION, 240 TWO CHATHAM CENTER Free format text: RELEASED BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNORS:AL-INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, INC., A CORP. OF PA;ALLEGHENY INTERNATIONAL, INC., A CORP. OF PA;REEL/FRAME:004846/0078 Effective date: 19870827 Owner name: SPECIAL METALS CORPORATION,PENNSYLVANIA Free format text: RELEASED BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNORS:AL-INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, INC., A CORP. OF PA;ALLEGHENY INTERNATIONAL, INC., A CORP. OF PA;REEL/FRAME:004846/0078 Effective date: 19870827 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SPECIAL METALS CORPORATION, NEW YORK Free format text: RELEASED BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:HELLER FINANCIAL, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005463/0096 Effective date: 19900831 |
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Owner name: CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH, NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SPECIAL METALS CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:006540/0204 Effective date: 19900831 |