Behavior of sustained high-current arcs on molten-alloy electrodes during vacuum consumable-arc remelting

Vacuum consumable arc remelting is a casting process carried out in a vacuum with the aim of remelting the consumable electrode in such a way that the new ingot has improved chemical and physical homogeneity. The power which causes the melting is supplied by a vacuum arc burning between the electrodes. In order to determine the furnace partitions of electrical power and current, experiments were conducted on molten faced round electrodes. The quasi-steady melt rate was determined for both horizontally opposed 15 cm dia. Ni electrodes and for vertically suspended 40 cm dia. Inconel 718 electrodes.