Abstract: An apparatus for continuously refining molten crude lead including a furnace for removal of antimony from the crude lead regardless of whether the crude lead does or does not contain arsenic and/or tin. The furnace is of the reverberatory type having a plurality of transverse walls dividing the interior thereof and thus the lead into a number of distinct but connected compartments with the passageways through the transverse walls being staggered so that molten lead passes along a zigzag or tortuous path through the furnace which is lined with a refractory material. Air is injected into the molten crude lead as it passes from the inlet end of the furnace to the discharge end for progressive softening of the crude lead. The low antimony content slags produced near the lead discharge end of the furnace becomes progressively enriched in antimony as they react with the higher antimony content metal as they pass toward the lead inlet end where they are discharged at a slag overflow device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying metals, such as aluminum, by segregation, wherein, by controlled cooling in the upper part of a volume of liquid metal to be purified, which is contained in a crucible and disposed in a furnace, small crystals are caused to form, the crystals falling towards the bottom of the container under the force of gravity. The small crystals are compacted so as to cause the formation of a compact layer of large purified crystals.This process is distinguished from the known processes in that, to enhance the purification effect, the thermal flux is so adjusted as to completely and progressively re-melt the lower part of the mass of large crystals which are formed, with the re-melting action being propagated upwardly so as permanently to maintain a layer of large crystals which separates the re-melted liquid entirely disposed in the lower part from the remaining mother liquor.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of platinum group metals, Ag and Au from a precious metal containing residue which includes the platinum group metals, Ag and Au together with Fe, Cu, Ni, Se and Te, the process comprising the following steps:(a) smelting the precious metal containing residue with leach residue including S and a flux to product (i) a slag and (ii) a copper matte phase containing S, the platinum group metals, Au, Ag, Se and Te, and an excess of Ni and/or Fe as defined in step (b) below,(b) removing excess of the elements Fe or Ni or compounds thereof from the matte phase produced by step (a) by oxidation thus converting the elements or compounds thereof to their respective oxides which then report to the slag phase, the excess being defined as more than about 10% by weight of iron, more than about 15% by weight of nickel or more than about 20% by weight of the total of iron and nickel, based on the weight of the matte phase,(c) contacting the matte phase produced after oxidation step (b) in liquid fo

Abstract: A process for the recovery of metal, particularly aluminum is disclosed whereby flux is in a ratio of less than about 0.4 flux to inert material in the dross.

Abstract: Non-ferrous metals are extracted from iron-bearing scraps by adding the scraps and a slagging agent for iron to a molten copper bath, injecting an oxygen containing gas in the bath and keeping the bath temperature below 1400.degree..The scraps thus undergo an oxidizing smelting in the presence of a molten copper phase and a slagging agent for iron, resulting in a rapid extraction of non-ferrous metals from the scraps into the copper phase and a thorough iron slagging.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for converting matte in two parallelly connected converters (I, II) with essentially equal blowing rates, corresponding the full capacity of the sulphuric acid plant receiving the process gases. Instead of an arrangement where the following converting periods of the two converters (I, II) are carried out in turns, the converting periods of the converters are now partially overlapping in such a fashion that their blowing periods are staggered, so that blowing is always performed in the first converter while the second converter is being charged or poured. By using this method it is possible to achieve very short waiting periods between the converting periods, additional heating is unnecessary and the pair of converters renders a continuous and even gas flow, which has a higher sulphur dioxide content than normally.

Abstract: A device is described for directly making liquid pig-iron from coarse iron ore. Hot sponge-iron particles are directly conveyed by a worm conveyor (17) through a communicating passage (19) from a direct-reduction blast-furnace shaft (2) into a smelter-gasifier (1), and a stream (24) of gas flows, after cooling to below 950.degree. C., in counter-current to the sponge-iron particles, from the smelter-gasifier (1) to the blast-furnace shaft (2), this gas stream having a volumetric flow-rate not more than 30 percent of the total reduction-gas flow reaching the blast-furnace shaft (FIG. 1).

Abstract: Apparatus is provided whereby maximum options for the treatment of steel rod in direct sequence with rolling are available within a single piece of equipment, all on a single treatment line, and all at convenient, labor free, push-button control. Maximum application of heat to the rod is provided for heat treating, slow-cooling or intermittent reheat cooling or treating, and alternatively maximum application of cooling air is available by means of individually controllable air ducts and guides associated with each roller conveyor for applying air at different pressures both across and/or along the conveyor. Special means for applying forced air to the rod through outlets in contact with the rod assure maximum penetration of cooling air into the dense parts of the lay. Special forms of rollers are provided for applying cooling air to the rod and to the rollers as well as for supporting rod during heat treatment.

Abstract: Layered active brazing material in the form of two microcrystalline or amorphous foils applied to both sides of a ductile metal ribbon acting as a carrier. The foils consist of an alloy containing two or more of the elements Cu, Ti, Ge, Si, Ag, Zr, Ni, Al, Fe and are produced by spraying the molten alloy onto a rapidly rotating, cooled copper cylinder, and the resulting ribbon detaching itself from the cylinder. Production of the ductile metal body covered on both sides with foils using spot welding.

Abstract: This invention relates to the recovery of platinum group metals and Au and Ag from high sulphur content base metal sulphide ore residues and also to the separation of Ag from the other precious metals referred to.The process for the recovery of platinum group metals, silver and gold from a base metal sulphide-containing leach residue comprises:(a) smelting the said leach residue with a flux to produce:(i) a slag containing FeO, CaO and SiO.sub.

Abstract: A method of producing aluminum is carried out in an electric arc furnace having primary and secondary zones separated by a divider constructed to permit the flow of molten but not gaseous products between zones. The method includes providing a charge of carbon into the primary zone containing a mixture of aluminum and aluminum carbide and providing a charge of alumina to the secondary zone, simultaneously heating the zones to react said carbon with the aluminum to form aluminum carbide in said mixture, flowing the mixture into the secondary zone, reacting the aluminum carbide in the mixture with alumina to form additional aluminum and an aluminum oxycarbide slag, flowing the slag to the primary zone for reaction with the aluminum carbide to form aluminum in the mixture, and tapping aluminum from the secondary zone.

Abstract: The lowermost end of a filling tube which extends through a protective top into a vessel containing a melt includes a support flange which mounts a dip container inside the vessel. The dip container is shaped to define an internal reaction chamber below the lowermost end of the filling tube and to provide communication between the internal reaction chamber and the melt. It includes a basket-shaped metal container which is attached to the support flange and an outer sheath formed of a reinforcing material-containing refractory, the outer sheath covering both the metal container and the filling tube up to a point near the protective top so as to leave an expansion joint between it and each of the metal containers, the filling tube and the protective top.

Abstract: In an apparatus for preparation of high-melting-point high-toughness metals by reduction of chlorides thereof with an active metal which comprises a heatable and tightly closable reaction chamber, an evacuable and coolable condensation chamber for separating the unreacted active metal and the formed chloride of the active metal from the formed object metal and an intermediate connecting section for communicating and cutting off the two chambers, the improved apparatus which is characterized in that it comprises a seal pot closing means having a funnel and a pot which is closed by introducing a melt of a fusible and vaporizable material and solidifying it therein, is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating the surface of articles such as foils, plates or molded articles by electric brush discharge comprises a first electrode for guiding articles to be treated and at least one facing brush electrode having a quartz coating, which can be connected to opposite potential and is arranged to be cooled by a cooling air flow flowing over the outside thereof. Guide means are provided for guiding the cooling air flow at least partly through the corona along the active discharging side of the brush electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of recovering ferronickel from oxidated nickel ores, omprising preparing of a charge accompanied by roasting ore, a reducing agent and flux, followed by electric smelting of the charge. According to the proposed method, roasting of the ore with the reducing agent and roasting of the flux are carried out separately.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of smelting aluminum by using a blast furnace. An oxygen gas is introduced into a carbon material packed in a reactor, to burn the same to form a plurality of raceways and a high-temperature reduction region among the raceways. A mixture containing an alumina-containing starting material and a carbon material is then supplied selectively into the high-temperature reduction region while substantially preventing the mixture from contacting the raceways, to reduce the alumina to aluminum.

Abstract: The improved crucible of the present invention both filters molten metal during the transfer of the molten metal from a supply receptacle such as a melting furnace to a receiving receptacle such as a mold. The transfer crucible of the present invention may be either portable or permanently mounted. The present invention relates to both the design of the improved transfer crucible and to the method for using the improved transfer crucible. The transfer crucible of the present invention is fitted with one or more removable blades, each of which contains a filter element. Molten metal can be filtered while the crucible is being filled with molten metal, during transfer of molten metal, or if desired molten metal can be filtered both on entry into and on exit from the transfer crucible.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of segregation for producing metals such as aluminum in a very high state of purity in respect of eutectic elements. The process comprises adding to a metal which is already very pure, at least one eutectic element, in a hypoeutectic amount, to ensure efficiency of the segregation operation. The added element or elements must be capable of being easily eliminated in the segregation operation, and it must not create difficulties in regard to the use envisaged for the metal.This process can be used in particular for the production, with a suitable yield, of aluminum containing less than 10 ppm of iron and silicon, and intended in particular for the manufacture of high and medium voltage capacitors.

Abstract: Copper is melted in a reverberatory furnace having a longitudinally extending hearth, a roof, side and end walls and having a burner system at one end wall thereof for providing at least one flame extending longitudinally through said furnace for heating the hearth thereof, the method also including using at least one oxygen lance extending downwardly from the roof of the furnace with the flame thereof in head-on contact with a unit portion of copper charged to the furnace, the total charge in the furnace comprising a plurality of unit portions disposed along said hearth.

Abstract: A metallurgical vessel includes a cylindrical portion which is supported on a ring carrying a tilting spindle which is mounted for pivotal tilting movement of the vessel. The vessel includes a frustoconical mouth portion at its upper end which terminates in a mouth ring of reinforced construction. The construction includes a cooling arrangement for the mouth portion which comprises a plurality of groups of coils which are wound around the mouth portion and which are advantageously wound in the form of a multistart screw thread. Each group of coils includes an inlet and an outlet which is connected to a distributor through suitable valves. This distributor in turn is connected through a main distribution pipe which extends through an opening in the tilting ring and the tilting spindle and is connected to a source of fluid cooling medium through a rotary seal at the outer end of the tilting spindle.