Vacuum Plasma Electron Beam Melting of Reactive and Refractory Metals and Their Alloys: One Step Melting of Low Oxygen Content Titanium Scrap by Using VPEB

Vacuum plasma electron beam (VPEB) melting with a hot hollow cathode gives satisfactory results for recovery of low oxygen content titanium scraps and Zircaloy-2 scraps. The yield of relatively high vapor pressure elements, such as Cr, can be controlled easily to meet with the tolerance. The VPEB has a high energy density and purification effect which is similar to that of high voltage electron beam melting. Power input of the VPEB to a target of a molten pool is by far more stable and the yield of materials throughout the melting of reactive and refractory metals and their alloys is quite satisfactory compared to those of high voltage EB or the vacuum arc melting process. The VPEB process is also safer, easier to operate, and suitable for automation. Three examples of VPEB application at VMC-ULVAC are described in this paper.