Abstract: Treatment agents for steel suitable for desulphurizing molten steel comprise granules containing both magnesium oxide and/or carbonate and aluminium, the proportion of aluminium in the surface of the granules being substantially less than the overall proportion of aluminium in the granules. The granules are suitable for application into the molten steel via injection techniques.

Abstract: A hollow, disposable former for use in forming a lining in a metallurgical vessel e.g. a ladle for holding molten metal comprises a plurality of connected adjacent wall portions of drywall having dimensions and configurations to provide an outer surface which corresponds to the desired inner surface of the lining to be formed.

Abstract: Vermicular graphite cast iron is produced by adding to molten iron simultaneously up to 0.3% by weight of the iron of one or more rare earth metals and in excess of 0.2% by weight of the iron of calcium the quantity of rare earth metal being within the range of 2 to 8 times the sulphur content of the molten iron.The rare earth may be added for example as cerium, mischmetall or as rare earth silicide. The calcium may be added for example as calcium metal or as calcium silicide or a nickel-calcium alloy. An alloy containing both rare earth and calcium, such as a calcium-cerium-silicon alloy, or a composition containing rare earth, calcium and a fluxing agent may also be used.

Abstract: A cavity in a body of particulate moulding material has at least one rib-like formation for gripping an object received in the cavity. In the case of a metal casting mould a riser sleeve (1) is inserted into a cavity (9) in the top part of the mould and the cavity (9) is produced by means of a tapered former (5) the exterior of which has a plurality of radially spaced apart recesses (6) extending between the top and towards the bottom of the former and which has a negative taper from bottom to top. The depth of the recesses (6) is such that circles geometrically inscribed inside the base of the recesses (6) have diameters smaller than the corresponding mean outside diameters less three times the standard deviation of the riser sleeves (1) to be used. The recesses (6) form ribs (11) from the moulding sand and the ribs (11) grip the outer surface of the sleeve (1).

Abstract: A foundry sand composition which comprises particulate sand, aqueous sodium silicate as binder and an alkylene carbonate as hardener and which after use for moulds and/or cores in metal casting can be reclaimed for reuse by an attrition process contains before use no more than 11% by weight of alkylene carbonate based on the weight of aqueous sodium silicate and during the reclamation process has a residual moisture content of less than 0.8% by weight as determined by loss on ignition on 550.degree. C.

Abstract: A sealed container, for providing a particulate, metal-casting flux in a vessel e.g. ingot mould in which a metal e.g. steel is being cast, has walls comprising an inner layer of plastics material heat-sealed to seal the container and, secured to the inner layer, an outer layer of aluminium foil. A number of the containers may be joined together as a length. The container(s) may be suspended down the side of a mould and/or put on the base of the mould.

Abstract: A binder composition in aqueous solution, suitable for use in the production of foundry sand moulds and cores is obtained by mixing(i) an alkali silicate(ii) a substantially water soluble carbohydrate selected from monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides and derivatives thereof and(iii) a phenolic compound selected from monohydric phenols, dihydric phenols, trihydric phenols, phenols of polynuclear hydrocarbons and phenolic acids, which is miscible with or soluble in an aqueous solution of an alkali metal silicate.The composition may also contain an oxyanion such as a borate which is capable of forming a water soluble complex with the carbohydrate.A mixture of phenolic compounds, such as a mixture consisting predominantly of isomers of di- and trihydroxy diphenyl obtained in the distillation of crude resorcinol, may be used.The preferred carbohydrate is a stabilized starch hydrolysate whose reducing power has been removed by a process such as hydrogenation.

Abstract: A method of sealing a joint between component parts of a metal mould for metal casting comprises applying in the area where the seal is desired an elongated sealing element and a compressible cover separating the sealing element from each of the surfaces to be sealed together. The method is especially useful for sealing the joint between an ingot mould for steel ingots and a base plate for the mould.

Abstract: Method of desulphurizing a ferrous melt comprises injecting into the melt lime-containing particles having smooth surfaces, a low tendency to absorb moisture and blocked pores formed by solidification of molten inorganic matter in the pores of the lime. Method of making a desulphurization agent for the desulphurizing method comprises calcining limestone with, for example, sodium carbonate, calcium fluoride or siliceous matter. Desulphurization agents per se are also described.

Abstract: A treatment agent for use in the production of vermicular graphite cast iron is formed by compacting a mixture comprising particulate iron, magnesium, titanium and rare earth.

Abstract: A binder composition in aqueous solution, suitable for use in the production of foundry sand moulds and cores is obtained by mixing(i) an alkali metal silicate(ii) a substantially water soluble carbohydrate selected from monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides and derivatives thereof and(iii) urea.The composition may also contain an oxyanion such as a borate which is capable of forming a water soluble complex with the carbohydrate. The preferred carbohydrate is a stabilized starch hydrolysate whose reducing power has been removed by a process such as hydrogenation.Moulds and cores bonded using the composition may be hardened by injection of carbon dioxide gas, or a chemical hardening agent for the alkali metal silicate may be added to the sand.

Abstract: Carbon articles, particularly carbon electrodes, are protected against corrosive attack in use by fusing material to the article, or applying material to the carbon article which under the conditions of its use is capable of fusing to the carbon article, to form a coherent coating of protective material over only that part of the carbon article liable to corrosive attack when the article is in use.

Abstract: A composition is provided for marking hot metal objects, which may be moving e.g. steel bar emerging from a rolling mill. The composition is in powder form and comprises a major weight proportion of refractory pigment and a fusible adhesion agent therefor. For marking, the composition may be applied in a carrier gas, optionally through a stencil, to the surface of the object and allowed to adhere there. Clear, durable markings are obtainable.

Abstract: Flammable foundry coatings are disclosed in which the carrier liquid is safer to handle than previously used types e.g. isopropanol, and which also burns off more satisfactorily. The carrier liquid is a mixture of an essentially aliphatic hydrocarbon liquid of flash point greater than 32.degree. C., e.g. an aliphatic petroleum distillate, and a mono alkyl ether of a polyhydric alcohol, e.g. ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (oxitol).

Abstract: The invention provides, for use in desulphurizing molten steel or iron, a desulphurizing composition in compacted form comprising lime, an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal fluoride or mixture thereof and sufficient ballmill dust to facilitate the compaction of the composition. The composition is preferably added to the molten metal in a ladle.

Abstract: Titanium recovery in the treatment of molten ferrous metal e.g. in a furnace or ladle is improved if use is made of an agent comprising titanium metal and an alkali metal halide or an alkaline earth metal halide.

Abstract: Injectable composition for desulphurizing molten ferrous metals, especially iron, comprises alkaline earth metal, preferably magnesium, and sintered mixture of lime and at least one fluxing agent. Magnesium is preferably 8 to 60% of composition and lime preferably is 45 to 95% of the sintered mixture. Fluxing agent is preferably alumina and fluoride. Composition enables rapid and efficient desulphurization and does not give large amounts of slag.

Abstract: A calculator is described which greatly simplifies the calculation of the required feeder head parameters, e.g. size, amount of antipiping compound, in casting metals. Only the size of the casting section being fed and the normalized inscribed circle relating thereto need to be measured.

Abstract: The invention relates to alkali metal silicate binder compositions, particularly for use in the production of foundry moulds and cores.The binders of the invention are in aqueous solution and are obtained by mixing:(i) an alkali metal silicate,(ii) a substantially water soluble carbohydrate selected from glycans; glycan oligosaccharides; glycanitols; glycanitol derivatives of oligosaccharides; and monosaccharides and disaccharides and derivatives thereof, and(iii) an oxyanion of boron, tin, germanium, tellurium or arsenic, which can form with the carbohydrate a water soluble complex.The binders of the invention give better breakdown properties and improved surface finish of metal castings produced using moulds and cores formed using the binders.

Abstract: Treatment agents are described for use in nodularizing cast iron in the production of ductile iron and also useful in deoxidizing steel and desulphurizing cast iron. The agents take the form of a compacted mixture comprising particulate iron, magnesium and calcium, and are distinguished by(a) a magnesium content of 5 to 15% by weight(b) a weight ratio of magnesium to calcium in the range of from 1:1 to 8:1(c) the iron having a purity of at least 95% by weight and a particle size of all less than 0.5 mm and(d) being compacted into a body of density at least 4.3 gm/cm.sup.3.The high density allows the agent to be used effectively by a simple overpour technique.