Change in iron-alloy composition in a vacuum induction furnace

In smelting iron alloys in a vacuum induction furnace, the challenge is to refine the metal while retaining the alloying elements and ensuring the specified composition. That calls for quantitative description of alloy refining in deep vacuum. A model of the evaporation of iron-alloy components on smelting in a vacuum induction furnace is developed. The limiting stage of evaporation is assumed to be the transition of the component to the gas phase. The flux of each alloy component to the gas phase in the given conditions is calculated from the Langmuir equation. The resulting model satisfactorily predicts the evaporation of the components of complex iron alloys on smelting in a vacuum induction furnace in deep vacuum. The algorithm developed permits the calculation of the change in composition and mass of an iron alloy on refining in a vacuum induction furnace of specified capacity, at specified residual pressure and temperature. © 2015, Allerton Press, Inc.