TRENDS AND SPECIFIC FEATURES OF SPECIAL METALLURGICAL CONCEPTS IN THE GERMAN-DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLIC

The development of many branches of modern technology is closely connected to the use of superpure metals, special alloys and special steel grades. The necessity to produce these materials with the lowest content of various inclusions, accompanying elements and other contaminations which adversely affect material properties, has led to a continous development of the technologies and concepts of vacuum and special metallurgy. In this field, the GDR stepped upon an entirely new path with the use of electron beam multichamber furnaces for steel production which has been implemented since the middle sixties.