Titanium Ingot Melting Technology Comparison: Pros and Cons of VAR, EBCHR, PAM, and IM

The melting of titanium ingots is a key link in the production of titanium and titanium alloy materials, and the melting method affects the composition uniformity, organizational properties and final material quality of the ingots. The following is a comparison of several common melting methods and their advantages and disadvantages:

1. Vacuum Arc Remelting (VAR)

• Principle: Uses an electric arc in a vacuum environment to melt titanium and its alloys, solidifying the ingot in a water-cooled copper crucible.
• Advantages:
  • The vacuum environment removes gas impurities such as oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen.
  • Produces uniform composition and refined grains.
  • Mature technology, suitable for mass production.
• Disadvantages:
  • High requirements for the purity and density of the melting electrode.
  • Limited flexibility in composition adjustment, which must be pre-mixed in raw materials.

2. Electron Beam Cold Hearth Melting (EBCHR)

• Principle: Uses a high-energy electron beam to heat titanium materials, melting them into ingots in a water-cooled copper hearth.
• Advantages:
  • Removes both high-density and low-density inclusions.
  • High purity, further reduces gas impurities.
  • Direct processing of titanium sponge or scrap material is possible.
• Disadvantages:
  • High equipment investment and operational costs.
  • Slower melting process with relatively low production capacity.

3. Plasma Arc Melting (PAM)

• Principle: Uses a plasma arc as a heat source to melt metals, producing high-purity titanium ingots.
• Advantages:
  • Focused heat input for high melting efficiency.
  • Removes inclusions and gas impurities.
  • Can directly process titanium materials with higher impurity levels.
• Disadvantages:
  • High cost and technical complexity.
  • Requires skilled operation and high equipment maintenance.

4. Induction Melting (IM)

• Principle: Uses electromagnetic fields generated by induction coils to melt titanium materials.
• Advantages:
  • Precise temperature control and good composition uniformity.
  • Suitable for small-scale, high-specification production.
• Disadvantages:
  • Melting capacity is limited by induction equipment, making it difficult to produce large ingots.
  • Limited impurity removal capability and high raw material requirements.

Summary Comparison:

Bokang Titanium specializes in the full-process independent production of titanium alloys. Our titanium products include titanium ingots, titanium bars, titanium wires, titanium discs, titanium plates, and more. If you have any needs or technical questions, feel free to contact us for discussion.