Niobium as a protective barrier in molten metals

• US 9,327,347 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2014
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Southwire Company
• Original Assignee: Southwire Company
• Inventors: Rundquist, Victor F., Gill, Kevin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kerns, Kevin P
• Application Number:
  US14/464,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20140352908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 164/47, 164/459, 164/138
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 3/00 Methods or apparatus specially adapted for transmitting mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 11/004 Copper alloys
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 11/04 into open-ended moulds B22D11/06, B22D11/07 take precedence; plants for continuous casting, e.g. for upwardly drawing the strand B22D11/14
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 11/059 Mould materials or platings
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 25/02 by its peculiarity of shape; of works of art cylinders, pistons B22D15/02
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 9/00 Alloys based on copper

Abstract

Devices may be in contact with molten metals such as copper, for example. The devices may include, but are not limited to, a die used for producing articles made from the molten metal, a sensor for determining an amount of a dissolved gas in the molten metal, or an ultrasonic device for reducing gas content (e.g., hydrogen) in the molten metal. Niobium may be used as a protective barrier for the devices when they are exposed to the molten metals.

Claims

1. A method for producing a solid article from a molten metal, the method comprising:

providing a bath comprising the molten metal;

introducing molten metal from the bath into an entrance of a die, the die comprising;

(i) an outer layer comprising graphite; and

(ii) an inner layer comprising elemental niobium, the inner layer having a thickness in a range from about 1 to about 10 microns; and

processing the molten metal through the die while cooling to produce the solid article at an exit of the die.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the inner layer comprising elemental niobium is in a range from about 3 to about 6 microns.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the inner layer comprising elemental niobium is in a range from about 1 to about 4 microns.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the inner layer comprising elemental niobium is in a range from about 1 to about 3 microns.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the molten metal comprises copper.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid article is a rod comprising copper.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the bath comprises molten copper;

the entrance of the die is generally cylindrical; and

the thickness of the inner layer comprising elemental niobium is in a range from about 2 to about 8 microns.

8. A method for producing a solid article from a molten metal, the method comprising:

providing a bath comprising the molten metal;

introducing molten metal from the bath into an entrance of a die, the die comprising;

(i) graphite portions; and

(ii) a coating comprising elemental niobium over the graphite portions, the coating having a thickness in a range from about 1 to about 10 microns; and

processing the molten metal through the die while cooling to produce the solid article at an exit of the die.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the thickness of the coating comprising elemental niobium is in a range from about 2 to about 8 microns.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the thickness of the coating comprising elemental niobium is in a range from about 3 to about 6 microns.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the thickness of the coating comprising elemental niobium is in a range from about 1 to about 4 microns.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the molten metal comprises copper.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the solid article is a rod comprising copper.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the bath comprises molten copper;

the entrance of the die is generally cylindrical; and

the thickness of the coating comprising elemental niobium is in a range from about 3 to about 6 microns.