Thermite

• Refractory contamination is eliminated through the use of solid copper reaction vessels which Reading Alloys developed in the 1960s to improve the quality of master alloys. Double-melt processes use refractory-lined vessels which can adhere to alloys during thermiting, creating the potential for refractory contamination and necessitating an additional time-consuming processing step.
• Reading Alloys’ copper vessels are geometrically designed and sized to maximize the homogeneity (uniformity) of the alloy. This insures that each ingot is not only uniform but identical to all other ingots produced during a melt campaign.

After themite smelting, ingots are broken up and shot blasted to remove any slag or discoloration from surface oxidation. Every piece is 100% inspected for slag, discoloration or porosity. After initial inspection, alloys pass through a series of crushing, sieving, and milling operations to produce the range of particle sizes required by customers. Further inspection is done before material is released to final inspection which may include a three-step process of whitelight, ultraviolet and X-ray inspection.

The design of this unique patented water-cooled copper vessel is the key to the aluminothermic smelting process. The vessel provides a low cost, efficient and flexible method to produce refractory-free master alloys which are low in gases, carbon, sulfur and other contaminants.