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What’s called “Ladle Furnace(LF) in the tool steel industry ? In a foundry, a ladle is a vessel used to transport and pour out molten metals. Ladles range in size from small hand carried vessels that resemble a kitchen ladle and hold 20 kilograms (44 lb) to large steelmill ladles that hold up to 300 tonnes (330 tons). Many non-ferrous foundries also use ceramic crucibles for transporting and pouring molten metal and will also refer to these as ladles. After tapping of steel from a primary steelmaking furnace such as BOF, EAF or EOF, molten steel for high quality or specialty applications is subjected to further refining in a number of alternative processes collectively known as ladle metallurgy. Ladle metallurgy is sometimes also called ladle refining or secondary steelmaking. Ladle metallurgy processes are commonly performed in ladles. Tight control of ladle metallurgy is associated with producing high grades of steel in which the tolerances in chemistry and consistency are narrow. Its advantages are as following: 

Desulphurization rate can reach 50%-70%

It can produce the steel with sulfur[S]≤0.001 %, if processing time is fully, it even Can reach the level [S]0.0005%. 

High purity steel

The total inclusion in steel can be reduced by 50%, large particle inclusion almost all can be removed. [O] reach 20ppm-30ppm. 

High heating speed of molten steel can reach 3℃/min--5℃/mIn.

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The accuracy of temperature control can reach ±3℃-5℃.

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High accuracy of chemIcal composition control

Like C±0.01%, Si ±0.02%, Mn：±0.02% etc, which the tolerances In chemistry and consistency are narrow. 

Mechanical properties - Improvement in toughness, ductility, and transverse properties.

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Decarburization - Removal Of carbon for meeting the requirement of certain grades of steel.

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Micro cleanliness - Removal of undesirable nonmetallic elements.

Editor : Mr. Jie Yun Lee (Engineer) Tel: +86 714 3064045, E-mail : [email protected] Company : Alta Special Steel Co.,Ltd Declaration : Alta Special Steel Co.,Ltd enjoy the ownership to this article, reproduced, please indicate the source!