Abstract
A study has been made of the chemical composition of solid-metal buttons of low-alloy steel, stainless steel, high-temperature alloys, and copper-base and aluminum-base alloys produced by the dc-arc fusion of wire and chips under argon shielding. The effect of fusion on 22 elements commonly encountered in these alloys has been determined quantitatively. A correlation has been shown between boiling points and element losses. With the exception of zirconium, no significant changes in the composition of metallic elements having boiling points greater than manganese (2150° C) were noted while using the recommended procedures for button preparation. Steels showed consistent, slight losses of manganese and occasional loss of zirconium. Losses of lead in copper-base alloys and of magnesium, lead and manganese in aluminum-base alloys, which occur with high currents, may be eliminated by first briquetting the chips, then fusing at relatively low amperage. Consistent and significant losses of zinc were noted. Carbon pickup from the graphite electrode is slight, but inconsequential. Copper pickup from the water-cooled copper cup is usually negligible.
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