Niobium as a protective barrier in molten metals
View Patent ↗Devices may be in contact with molten metals such as copper, for example. The devices may include, but are not limited to, a die used for producing articles made from the molten metal, a sensor for determining an amount of a dissolved gas in the molten metal, or an ultrasonic device for reducing gas content (e.g., hydrogen) in the molten metal. Niobium may be used as a protective barrier for the devices when they are exposed to the molten metals.
1. A method for producing a solid article from a molten metal, the method comprising:
providing a bath comprising the molten metal;
introducing molten metal from the bath into an entrance of a die, the die comprising:
(i) an outer layer comprising graphite; and
(ii) an inner layer comprising elemental niobium, the inner layer having a thickness in a range from about 1 to about 10 microns; and
processing the molten metal through the die while cooling to produce the solid article at an exit of the die.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the inner layer comprising elemental niobium is in a range from about 3 to about 6 microns.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the inner layer comprising elemental niobium is in a range from about 1 to about 4 microns.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the inner layer comprising elemental niobium is in a range from about 1 to about 3 microns.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molten metal comprises copper.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid article is a rod comprising copper.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the bath comprises molten copper;
the entrance of the die is generally cylindrical; and
the thickness of the inner layer comprising elemental niobium is in a range from about 2 to about 8 microns.
8. A method for producing a solid article from a molten metal, the method comprising:
providing a bath comprising the molten metal;
introducing molten metal from the bath into an entrance of a die, the die comprising:
(i) graphite portions; and
(ii) a coating comprising elemental niobium over the graphite portions, the coating having a thickness in a range from about 1 to about 10 microns; and
processing the molten metal through the die while cooling to produce the solid article at an exit of the die.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the thickness of the coating comprising elemental niobium is in a range from about 2 to about 8 microns.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the thickness of the coating comprising elemental niobium is in a range from about 3 to about 6 microns.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the thickness of the coating comprising elemental niobium is in a range from about 1 to about 4 microns.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the molten metal comprises copper.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the solid article is a rod comprising copper.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the bath comprises molten copper;
the entrance of the die is generally cylindrical; and
the thickness of the coating comprising elemental niobium is in a range from about 3 to about 6 microns.