Self-fusing Mold Electric Slag Remelting
Self-fusing Mold Electric Slag Remelting (SFMERS) is a process used in metal working and manufacturing to quickly remelt and recycle metal scrap, without the use of heat or expensive furnace equipment. The process is most commonly used when dealing with large amounts of ferrous scrap, and the product of the process is liquid metal with a higher purity than that of the scrap itself. SFMERS is a relatively low cost method of recovering and remelting metal scrap and is ideal for smaller to medium-sized applications.
The SFMERS process works by placing the scrap metal, in powdered form, into a self-fusing mold. The mold is made from a material that has a low melting point, such as graphite or aluminum oxide, and can be purged of any impurities through the inclusion of a digestive medium. This digestive medium can be a slurry of minerals or a liquid like oil, water, or air. Once the mold is filled, it is heated until the scrap melts and becomes liquid metal.
The molten metal cools rapidly within the mold and forms an alloy containing crystals of the scrap material that have fused together. As this happens, the slag that contains impurities and other non-metallic materials is expelled from the mold. The result is a high-purity metal that can be further worked and refined, or used directly in a manufacturing process.
SFMERS is a relatively fast process that offers a number of advantages. First, since it uses a lower temperature than traditional melting furnaces, the process is easier to manage and maintain, and the energy cost is lower. Additionally, since the metal is in a liquid state within the mold, any non-metallic bits are expelled from the metal before it leaves the mold, thus resulting in a higher purity metal for the manufacturer.
Finally, since the process is relatively fast, SFMERS can also help increase productivity when used in certain applications. For example, when an industry requires that a large amount of scrap material be recycled quickly, SFMERS could help reduce the amount of time it takes to upcycle the metal. This in turn can result in a more efficient manufacturing process and increased outputs for the company.
Overall, SFMERS is a metal working method with many advantages for the user. It can help reduce the cost of metal processing and refining, increase the purity of the resulting metal, and help increase productivity when used in certain applications. It is a good option to consider when dealing with large amounts of metal scrap that need to be processed quickly.
