Abstract: The present invention concerns a process and an apparatus for moulding ingots of ferro-alloys by chill casting in a cooled copper mould.The apparatus comprises:an ingot mould (1) of copper, which is formed from two mould halves (2), at least one of which comprises a plurality of impressions (10) of the ingots to be moulded, communicating with each other by way of ducts (11, 12) and opening in the upper part by way of an ingate (18),means (5) for cooling each mould half (2) by a heat exchange fluid,means (9) for bringing the two mould halves into contact and into sealing relationship,means for moving the two mould halves away from each other, andmeans (7, 8) for guiding the mould halves in their movement away from each other and in their movement of coming into sealing relationship.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for rapidly solidifying and cooling molten metal oxides, by continuous casting, which according to the invention, comprises: feeding the molten metal oxides into the convergent space formed between two cylinders mounted for rotation about horizontal axes and rotated in opposite directions, i.e., counter-rotating, at a substantially equal peripheral speed, the distance between their axes being equal to the sum of the radius of each cylinder plus at least about one millimeter; cooling the walls of the cylinders to enable solidification of the molten material; controlling the rotary speed of the cylinders so that the molten metal oxide is not completely solidified until it reaches a point beyond a plane passing through the axes of rotation of the cylinders, and retrieving a solidified metal oxide product from the divergent space formed between the cylinders. The method is particularly suited to the production of fine grain abrasives of a corundum or courndum-zirconia base.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for obtaining manganese- and silicon-based alloys by silico-thermal means in a ladle.An oxidized liquid slag, usually originating from earlier metallurgical operations and still containing from 10 to 40% of manganese in the form of MnO is treated by a silicon-based reducing alloy (silicon content of at least 60% and preferably at least 70%) with agitation.A slag which is substantially exhausted of manganese and a metal containing more than 60% and generally more than 70% of manganese and from 5 to 40% and preferably from 10 to 35% of silicon are thus obtained.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process of desiliconization of manganese alloys in the liquid state.By injecting carbon dioxide into the liquid alloy, which injection can be effected by an additional neutral gas, or oxidizing agent, the silicon is oxidized to SiO.sub.2. The addition of lime or dolomite favors the slagging of the silicon. By this process the silicon content can be as low as 0.1%.The process is particularly applicable for obtaining a ferromanganese with low carbon and low silicon content.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of obtaining manganese alloys with an average carbon content by reacting liquid, carbon-containing ferro-manganese in a fluid tight chamber. Oxygen, mixed with a heat regulating gas such as CO.sub.2, air, nitrogen, argon or steam, is introduced and by controlling the discharge of the gaseous effluent, the pressure in the reactor is adjusted between 1.5 and 15 bars, to avoid volatilization of the manganese and a refined ferro-manganese is produced containing 0.5-2% carbon.

Abstract: This invention relates to the thermal production of magnesium, using, as source of magnesium oxide, a residual slag from the manufacture of certain carbon-containing chrome irons and, as reducing agent, a ferro-silico-aluminum for carrying out the MAGNETHERM process. Magnesium is obtained with a high degree of purity and in excellent yields, with the recovery of a residual alloy containing chromium and silicon, and the production capacity of a given furnace is increased by about 16% compared with that obtained when using calcined dolomite.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrometallurgical process for the treatment of complex metal ores, such as oceanic nodules, containing, in particular, manganese and copper, in which the ores are subjected to reducing fusion to produce a primary slag, containing all the manganese, and a primary alloy containing copper, nickel and cobalt. The primary slag which is then decoppered, may be used for the production of ferro or silicomanganese, while the secondary alloy is recycled for the reducing fusion step.