Abstract: A large and uniform ingot is produced by casting smaller ingots from a melt of a metallic material which may include a high-melting-point active metal such as Ti or a Ti alloy obtained by a cold crucible induction melting method, forming a consumable electrode by using these smaller ingots, re-melting this consumable electrode by a vacuum arc re-melting method, and casting a larger ingot by using the obtained melt.

Abstract: A Ti-base wire rod for forming molten metal excellent both in rod feeding smoothness and arc stability is disclosed. A wire rod 301 is composed of Ti metal, and has in the surficial portion including the surface thereof an oxygen enriched layer having an oxygen concentration higher than that in an inner portion. Ratio Tw/Dw of the thickness Tw of the oxygen enriched layer and the diameter Dw of the wire rod is adjusted within a range of 1×10−3 to 1×10−1, and the average oxygen concentration of the oxygen enriched layer is adjusted to 1 wt % or above.

Abstract: A Ti-base wire rod for forming molten metal excellent both in rod Seeding smoothness and arc stability is disclosed. A wire rod 301 is composed of Ti metal, and has in the surficial portion including the surface thereof an oxygen enriched layer having an oxygen concentration higher than that in an inner portion. Ratio Tw/Dw of the thickness Tw of the oxygen enriched layer and the diameter Dw of the wire rod is adjusted within a range from 1×10−3 to 1×10−1, and the average oxygen concentration of the oxygen enriched layer is adjusted to 1 wt % or above.