Addn. of alloying elements to consumable melting electrodes - esp. where tin is located inside zirconium sponge to minimise tin loss during melting

摘要

The electrodes are made of metal, esp. Zr, Hf, Nb or Ta; and the alloying elements are placed in a container. The container is then placed in a material which will form the electrode; and the assembly is compacted. A row of compacts is then joined together, e.g. by welding, to make an electrode. The container is pref. made of the same material as the electrode, the latter being made esp. from Zr sponge, whereas the alloying element is esp. tin. The container may also be made of a Zr alloy, iron or an iron alloy, but in all cases the container pref. has a higher m.pt. than the alloying element. The loss of the alloying element during the melting of the electrode is minimised, and the element is uniformly distributed in the cast ingot made from the electrode.