Refining effect of hydrogen plasma arc melting on titanium sponges

Hydrogen plasma arc melting (HPAM) of commercial Ti sponges (> 99.7%) was examined. Ti sponges had main impurities such as Fe, Al, Cl and Mn. These main impurities could be reduced more efficiently by HPAM than by Ar PAM. Other small amount of impurities also had a tendency of reduction by HPAM. In addition, it was found that each removal degree is attributable to a differential refining effect caused by the difference of initial impurity concentration. For the unique refining effect of HPAM, dissociated and activated hydrogen atoms involved in the high temperature plasma arc are considered to play an important role in the melting process.