Removal of oxygen from iron-nickel melt in a vacuum induction furnace

The influence of individual elements in the composition of complex reducing agents was investigated for the example of the behavior of oxygen in the alloy 52N (52 mass percent Ni, the remainder iron) on reduction by cerium and aluminum in a vacuum induction furnace. A rational order of introduction of reducing agents in the melt is proposed on the basis of intensification of the stages of nucleation, enlargement, and removal of oxide inclusions from the volume of the metal in contacting phases. The removal of oxygen from the metal in complex reduction is most rapid when using a combination of elements such that one has a high reductive activity, forms oxide with low interphase energy, and ensures high supersaturation of the melt with reduction products, while the other forms oxides with a high interphase energy.