Deoxidation of Ti Melt by Newly Developed Two-Step Plasma Arc Melting Process Using Hydrogen

Abstract

A two-step plasma arc melting process, comprising a first step under Ar-30\xa0pct H2 gas flow and the second step under Ar gas flow, has been newly developed for the deoxidation of Ti melts. The oxygen content after this process depended on the depth probed in the Ti melt. Decrease in the oxygen content from 1.5 to 0.7\xa0mass\xa0pct in the surface region of the Ti melt occurred in the second step.