5. Liquid metal treatments

After melting, it is necessary to treat the liquid metal to remove surface dross, refine it and improve its characteristics before casting it into molds.

These treatments can be carried out directly in the furnace, in the ladle or during casting in the molds, with undesirable components being eliminated either by partitioning between two phases (metal and slag: sulfur in steel, for example) or by precipitation (Mg sulfide in cast iron, for example). The main treatments used in steel, cast iron and non-ferrous foundries are described below.