Effects of Varying SiC Purity on Cupola Melt Performance

The differences in performance between low- and high-purity grades of briquetted SiC need to be better understood for achieving maximum benefits, as both are very complicated materials that perform quite differently with advantages and disadvantages relative to each other. The effect of the degree of SiC purity on melt yield has not heretofore been accurately quantified by comprehensive mass balances for all inputs and outputs, so melt yield as a function of SiC purity is an important stand-alone metric which also serves to standardize all other variables by which all other effects (performance metrics) can be accurately quantified. The complexity of the interactions between all cupola melt process variables and the resultant effects makes it very difficult to obtain meaningful measurements by which satisfactory performance assessments can be made in comparing the relative values of low- and high-purity SiC. However, this project utilized comprehensive metal, slag and stack gas analyses which were needed for comprehensive mass balances in correlating all material inputs and outputs. The results of that were the basis for accurate assessments of performance metrics in comparing the relative advantages and disadvantages of each purity grade of SiC briquettes.