Plasma furnace for smelting and casting metal up to 3000 K

摘要

Purpose: The aim of our investigation was a development of plasma furnace for preparing castings of titanium alloy Ti64 ELI by remolding in laboratory at our research workplace. The reason of this paper writing was publishing of innovative information to the technical society. Design/methodology/approach: The objectives were achieved by solution of much research and development works in the very long time interval. The main methods used for our research was study of physic-chemical interaction between a liquid metal and surrounding atmosphere. The approach to the topic of our research was the elimination of interactions between the C, O, N and H and Ti, Al, V, Y, Zr in liquid metal. Contemporary we have solved also the acute ceramic mould for casting of perfect castings from metal of very high affinity to C, O, N and H. The main subject scope of the paper is assignee of very clean materials and much application from that. We are oriented particularly on the preparing parts of cementless total hip joint replacement (THR) and instruments for implantation. Findings: We have created the new original design of the plasma furnace for smelting and castings of high reaction of metal up to 3000 K. temperature. The main conclusion of our result was a practical using for research on very high level and for production of metal and castings from special metal in the final shape. Practical implications: It has been found that the quality of castings from Ti and Nb alloys is very good. The quality of casting was tested by metallographic analysis and by notch specimens. We have been finding out that the mass of casting can be approximately 1.00 kg. This is true statement in the first approximation if the new plasma furnace is arranged as smelting - cleaning - casting system. If the new plasma furnace is arranged as continual smelting system, than we can obtain ingot with the mass two or more kilograms. Originality/value: The design of new plasma furnace is original and also the castings from Ti, Ta and Nb alloys are in our laboratory original resultants and the metallographic analysis as well. In the case, when the castings with a good biocompatibility plays important role, this new plasma furnace can be very useful for preparing implants for body skeleton and spatial casting of material of very high affinity to elements as C, O, H, and N.