Armco Inc.

John C Hogan

Alan F Gibson

Means and a method for reclaiming galvanizing quality zinc alloy from the top dross of a continuous galvanizing line. A dross furnace is provided having front, rear and side walls and a hearth sloping from the rear wall toward the front wall. The front wall is provided with one or more tap holes or a full width slot so sized as to permit the passage of molten zinc alloy therethrough while retaining the resulting sponge or slag. The dross furnace is located with its front wall overhanging the coating pot of the continuous galvanizing line. The dross furnace is maintained at a temperature of from about 460.degree. C. to about 850.degree. C. and is charged with the top dross from the coating pot. The top dross has a residence time in the dross furnace of up to about two hours. The reclaimed galvanizing quality zinc alloy, at yields from about 50% to about 70% based upon the top dross treated, flows directly back into the coating pot. The resulting slag or sponge is removed from the dross furnace which is recharged with top dross.

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Greenhills, OH, United States of America

John C Hogan