METHOD OF PRODUCING STEEL UNDER OXIDATION PROTECTION CONDITIONS Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: metallurgy. SUBSTANCE: invention places special emphasis on smelting steel in arc furnaces but may be applied in smelting both ferrous and nonferrous metals obtained in the form of ordinary or continuous ingots, as well as in the form of molded articles. Method is distinguished by that, in all production stages, metal oxidation protection is accomplished through imparting negative electric potential to covering slag and negative potential to metal such as to continuously maintain potential difference in the slag-metal interface within the range from the value at which most stable oxides in slag decompose to values not exceeding voltage and current intensity initiating rapid electrolytic reduction of harmful impurities from slag into metal. EFFECT: facilitated metal oxidation control.