Method For Melting an Alloy Containing a Metal of a High Vapor Pressure

Abstract

In a method for producing an alloy containing a metal of a low melting point, a low boiling point and a high vapor pressure such as Mg, Ca, Li, Zn, Mn, Sr or the like, a helium containing gas is used as an atmosphere gas for the melting. As a result, the alloy containing the above metal can be produced as an alloy having a targeted chemical composition precisely and safely at a low cost without causing the risk of firing, contamination or the like by active metal fine powder being vaporized. Furthermore, by using the helium containing gas as the atmosphere gas, the quench-solidification of the molten metal can be conducted due to a high thermal conductivity inherent to the helium gas, so that a special alloy can be produced even by the usual melting apparatus.

1 . A method of melting an alloy containing a metal of a high vapor pressure characterized in that as the method for melting to produce an alloy containing one or more of Mg, Ca, Li, Zn, Mn and Sr, a helium containing gas is used as an atmosphere gas for the melting. 
   
   
       2 . A method for melting an alloy containing a metal of a high vapor pressure according to  claim 1 , wherein a helium concentration in the atmosphere gas is not less than 10 vol %. 
   
   
       3 . A method for melting an alloy containing a metal of a high vapor pressure according to  claim 1 , wherein the atmosphere gas is a mixed gas of helium and a gas not reacting with the starting metal such as nitrogen or argon. 
   
   
       4 . A method for melting an alloy containing a metal of a high vapor pressure according to  claim 1 , wherein the atmosphere gas has a pressure of 0.01-1 MPa. 
   
   
       5 . A method for melting an alloy containing a metal of a high vapor pressure according to  claim 2 , wherein the atmosphere gas is a mixed gas of helium and a gas not reacting with the starting metal such as nitrogen or argon. 
   
   
       6 . A method for melting an alloy containing a metal of a high vapor pressure according to  claim 2 , wherein the atmosphere gas has a pressure of 0.01-1 MPa. 
   
   
       7 . A method for melting an alloy containing a metal of a high vapor pressure according to  claim 3 , wherein the atmosphere gas has a pressure of 0.01-1 MPa. 
   
   
       8 . A method for melting an alloy containing a metal of a high vapor pressure according to  claim 5 , wherein the atmosphere gas has a pressure of 0.01-1 MPa.