Arc voltage distribution properties as a function of melting current, electrode gap, and CO pressure during vacuum arc remelting
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States). Materials Processing Dept.
- INCO Alloys International, Inc., Huntington, WV (United States)
An industrial vacuum arc remelting experiment was carried out at Cytemp Specialty Steel Corp. (Titusville, PA) during which a 0.432-m-diameter Alloy 718 electrode was remelted into a 0.508-m-diameter ingot. The purpose of the experiment was to investigate the response of the arc voltage distribution properties (mean, standard deviation, and skewness) and the drip-short frequency to melting current, electrode gap, and CO pressure. The responses were characterized by recording and analyzing changes in the temporally averaged properties. Each independent variable was systematically varied in accordance with a modified Yates order factor space experimental design within the following ranges: melting current, 5,000 to 11,200 A; electrode gap, 0.004 to 0.056 m; and CO pressure, 0.40 to 14.7 Pa. Statistical models were developed describing the correlation between the averaged arc voltage distribution properties and the independent variables. The models demonstrate that all of the voltage distribution properties, as well as the drip-short frequency, are directly related to electrode gap. An arc column model is presented to account for the mean arc voltage properties and the model is used to estimate the arc column pressure. The potential usefulness of the distribution properties as process diagnostics and control responses is evaluated.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 544099
- Journal Information:
- Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B: Process Metallurgy and Materials Processing Science, Vol. 28, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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