Abstract: The subject of the invention is a process for the continuous casting of very small-diameter wires directly from liquid metal, according to which said liquid metal is made to flow out of a heated and pressurized container made of refractory material, forming a jet of liquid. metal having a diameter equal to or slightly greater than that of the wire to be cast, and said jet is made to solidify by making it penetrate into a layer of moving cooling liquid deposited on the internal wall of a drum rotating about a horizontal axis, wherein said container is fed, continuously or intermittently, with solid metal without interrupting casting and wherein said solid metal is melted inside said container.The subject of the invention is also a device for the continuous casting of very small-diameter wires directly from liquid metal, allowing this process to be implemented.

Abstract: Process for the treatment of phosphuretted slag obtained by refining a molten bath, such as steel. The process according to the invention involves hot oxidizing the slag into which is blended, after refining, a pulverized solid adjuvant, strongly oxidizing and easily fusible upon contact with the slag. Among utilizable adjuvants, the carbonates of alkaline metals or alkaline earth metals are preferred, in particular sodium carbonate, which additionally, is a product currently utilized in the domain of the elaboration of metal, notably in iron metallurgy. The invention ensures a rapid passivation of the slag in stabilizing the phosphorus by forming phosphate and allowing in this manner the avoidance of the liberation of very toxic phosphenes which are produced naturally by cold hydrolysis.

Abstract: A layer of electrolyte in pulverulent form is spread over the free surface of a liquid metal to be desulfurized, in which the layer provides cationic conductivity by means of a cation adapted to react with the sulfur contained in the metal. The electrolyte layer is contacted with a first electrode connected to the positive pole of a direct current supply and the metal is contacted by a second electrode connected to the negative pole of the current supply.

Abstract: Process for decreasing the sulfur content of liquid metal using high temperature comprising passing a direct current by means of two electrodes through a solid electrolyte constituting a refractory wall of oxide having anionic conductivity through the oxygen (O.sup.-.sup.-) ions and also cationic conductivity through ions which are capable of reacting with the sulfur, wherein the metal to be purified forms the negative electrode. The process is particularly adapted to desulfurizing iron and ferrous alloys when present in the liquid state.