Method of producing a high-purity metal member.

摘要

A method of producing high-purity metal member, e.g. zirconium, is provided which reduces impurities present in the metal amd lends itself to mass production. It comprises the steps of charging raw material 6 such as sponge zirconium into a cavity 2 of a mold such as a sleeve-shaped or hearth mold, irradiating the material with electron beams 3a to melt it at a limited area of the cavity so as to form a molten metal pool and elevate the molten metal pool temperature to evaporate away impurities, and shifting the mold relative to the electron beams 3a to effect such melting portion-by-portion. In the case of high-purity sleeve formation, the electron beams are irradiated onto the raw material while rotating the mold so that melting and solidification repeatedly occur in a circumferential direction. The impurities are repeatedly exposed to the electron beams.