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Molten Metal Blanketing Systems
Proprietary solutions to improve your foundry operations
Air Products’ molten metal blanketing technologies can help ferrous and non-ferrous foundry operators increase yield and reduce overall operating costs. Our patented technologies displace the atmospheric oxygen and water vapor with a dry and inert argon or nitrogen atmosphere so you can blanket the melt surface to prevent metal oxidation and gas pick-up. By reducing metal oxidation, our proprietary technologies can help you reduce alloy costs and improve melt cleanliness and quality--resulting in less rework and scrap. With our patented vortex sprayer and swirl cone technologies, you may be able to use 50% less gas than conventional molten metal blanketing techniques within your induction and crucible furnaces. The optimal solution for your process depends on many factors, such as your furnace’s operating parameters, quality goals and the current market conditions.
Download Molten Metal Blanketing Technologies data sheet
Our Technologies Can Help Lower Your Overall Costs Through:
- Reduced oxygen concentrations to extremely low levels (<1.0% volume), depending on furnace conditions
- Improved metal fluidity due to lower oxide inclusions in the metals, increasing casting yields
- Reduced inclusions and porosity
- Better surface finish and improved machinability of castings
- Improved furnace lining life
- Reduced alloying costs
- More consistent heat chemistries
- Reduced slag and dross levels
How Can I Improve the Cleanliness of My Coreless Melt Furnace?
Watch our short video to hear Bruce Kenworthy, Applications Engineer, answer this commonly asked question.
Typical Performance vs. Conventional Methods
Ask the Expert
Bruce Kenworthy
Applications Engineer, North America
"How can I reduce my gas consumption for molten metal blanketing?"
By reducing the oxygen content above the induction furnace, inert gases—typically argon—have proven benefits for blanketing molten metal, including higher yields, lower alloy fading, decreased nonmetallic inclusions, reduced casting porosity, lower casting rework and rejects, and increased refractory lifetime. However, inert gas costs can impact your bottom line. Air Products’ patented swirl cone technology can deliver these benefits while using up to 50% less argon. In side-by-side testing, our technology reduced the oxygen level above the furnace to less than 2%, with little or no interference to the melting operation. In addition, the technology’s design enables it to remain in place during charging and pouring.