The Dow Chemical Company

Barry A Mikucki

James E Hillis

Andrew G Haerle

A method for estimating the inclusion content of a metal, the method involving three steps. The first step is to section the metal to create an exposed inner surface of the metal. The second step is to measure the reflectance of the exposed inner surface of the metal. The third step is to estimate the inclusion content of the metal from the reflectance. When a physical property of the metal, such as tensile strength, elongation or impact strength, is related to the inclusion content of the metal, then the physical property can be estimated from the reflectance of the exposed inner surface of the metal.

Method for estimating inclusion content of metals using reflectance

Hydrogen is essentially removed from molten magnesium by the use of a degassing step, thereby substantially avoiding the formation of zirconium hydride when zirconium and silicon are added to the molten magnesium, after the degassing, in order to precipitate iron contamination in the magnesium as an intermetallic compound comprising Fe, Zr, and Si; the ratio of the three metals in the intermetallic compound can vary over a wide range. By essentially avoiding the formation of slow-settling insoluble ZrH.sub.2, the iron removal is more efficient and the settling of the insolubles is expedited. Also, the Fe and Si are more effectively and consistently precipitated.

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Lake Jackson, TX, United States of America

Barry A Mikucki