RESEARCH OF THE PROCESS OF COPPER WASTE USING THE METHOD OF ELECTROSLAG SMELTING

Abstract

Due to production and economic necessity, as well as due to the lack of copper ore, non-ferrous metal enterprises use copper semi-finished products as raw materials, as well as copper waste in the form of wire or ham. Traditionally, remelting of copper scrap is carried out in induction furnaces or resistance furnaces [1]. At the same time, to obtain electrical copper, for example M1, a larger amount of primary copper is added to the charge. If the initial charge consists entirely of scrap, then during its remelting using the existing technology, the quality of secondary copper decreases compared to the original raw material.
As the observations showed, on the cone of the electrode, each ham melts separately, and the film stage of refining is significantly limited by the too small cross-section of each individual ham. At the same time, the solidified slag between the bars melts on the end of the electrode.
It was established that the feature of the remelting of the ham is evidence of a film stage of metal refining, which is not typical for EHP, as well as reliable protection of each ham before melting from oxygen in the air by the hardened slag of the metal-ceramic cone on the end of the electrode.
Considering the above, it can be assumed that the main feature of crude ham remelting is the minimization of the film stage of refining, the presence of a reducing atmosphere from the combustion of the coatings of each ham before its melting and during melting, as well as the development of the droplet stage of metal refining. The stage of refining at the interface between metal and slag in all cases of utilization of copper waste of various types is approximately the same. It was established that the melting characteristics of various consumable electrodes are not significantly reflected in the appearance of the ingots.