Abstract: An electrically heated melting furnace, preferably a direct current electric arc furnace, having a floor provided with a lining of refractory material and with an electrode comprised of a plurality of electrically conductive paths formed of an electrically conductive material which extends through the lining of refractory material from the inner floor surface toward the exterior, wherein the service life of the lining is improved in that the electrically conductive paths are composed of layers of at least one high melting point nonmetallic material which are connected with the refractory material, and which have a thickness of at most 5 mm.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the metallurgical aftertreatment of premelted metals, especially steel, consisting of a cylindrical ladle receiving the melt and closed by means of a cover and one or more electrodes passing through the cover and intended for heating the melt via electric arcs. The electrodes consist of metal castings, preferably of continuous-casting billets, which have a composition corresponding to the analysis of the metal melt. The invention also relates to a process for the aftertreatment of steel melts with very low carbon contents or with narrow carbon tolerances, in which electrodes consisting of a continuously cast low-carbon steel billets are used to heat the steel melt via electric arcs.