Dead melt

At 0.09 per cent. carbon the bath is usually underdone.” because a relatively high temperature is required to deadmelt at this carbon.

From these two heats it became apparent that steels of this composition, when deadmelted, tend to run several times higher in hydrogen than carbon steels.

After the charge is thoroughly mixed, samples are taken and poured into a small mould to see if the steel is "deadmelted," and also if the silicon content is right, for this may be judged by eye in the way it “settles down."

My proposition is to take otherwise finished steel from the Bessemer or open-hearth furnace, and hold it liquid, let us say thirty minutes, giving the oxides a chance to float up and the steel a chance to rest, thus giving it the equivalent of the deadmelt in the crucible.

A "sufficient amount" is defined as the gross charge weight of the alloy that is required to add the deficient weight of metal to the heat after the deadmelt oxidation losses have taken place.

Once the charge has melted and reached the pouring temperature the furnace is left to stand for a short time and then skimmed, after which the melt is sent for further treatment to a deadmelt and casting furnace, or cast direct.