| Definition of a master alloy: A combination (alloy or mixture) of elements, added to a metal bath in order to obtain a particular chemical composition or to bring about a particular reaction, e.g. deoxidation, desulphurization, degassing or grain refining. - Facilitate introduction of high temperature melting elements to a relatively low-temperature bath of metal, resulting in the following benefits:
- Increase recovery and reduce metal loss by avoiding high bath temperatures and prolonged periods of alloying and mixing. Oxidation and/or evaporation rate is lower than pure metals.
- Increase refractory life by avoiding high bath temperatures and prolonged stirring.
- Enhance safety by avoiding high alloying temperatures and handling of reactive pure elements.
- Reduce labor cost with a shorter production cycle.
- Improve chemistry control, replacing scrap with known master alloy chemistry and avoid potential contamination.
- Cost reduction when compared to use of virgin metal additions in many cases.
- Custom specification master alloys allow introduction of multiple pre-alloyed elements simultaneously in one addition.
- Improve alloy homogeneity by eliminating introduction of single elements.
- Reduce need for deoxidizers in many cases.
- Allow last minute chemistry correction additions, further reducing furnace time.
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