| 摘要 |
<p>A probe is provided for determining the amount of dissolved gas, (e.g. oxygen) in a molten metal (e.g. steel). It includes a disposable tip including three essential elements. The first element is a solid electrolyte which retains its ionic conduction properties and which does not exhibit substantial electronic conduction properties at the temperature of the molten metal. The electrolyte is a compact which has been individually formed by a technique which includes first pressure compacting and then sintering a free flowing mixture of the solid electrolyte and a suitable fugitive binder and preferably also a small amount of a suitable high temperature binder. The second element is a heat-resistant, substantially electrically non-conductive tube. The compact, which has a relative density, of about 70 percent, and which has an axial depression therein, is disposed and secured at one open end of the heat-resistant tube. The third element is at least one electrically conductive metallic element in intimate electrical contact with the electrolyte. Preferably, the disposable tip includes, and is disposed in, a fourth element, namely a plug which is formed of heat-resistant, substantially electrically non-conductive material, the plug being provided with a longitudinally extending aperture therethrough. Preferably also, the tip includes a fifth element, namely a tube formed of a structurally rigid, electrically conductive metal which secures the plug in one of its open ends. The tube has a major portion of its length non-degradable in the molten metal being tested. The tip is associated with a structurally rigid, heat-resistant, electrically conductive lance, to provide a mechanical assembly of the probe tip and the lance so that a component of the lance then is also in electrical contact with the electrically conductive metallic element which is in intimate electrical contact with the solid electrolyte, and also to provide the connection to a source of the reference gas.</p> |
