Process and apparatus for resistance heating of electrically conductive workpieces

Elongated electrically-conductive workpieces such as bars, strips and wire, are resistance heated by passing an electric current through a length of the workpiece between a pair of spaced contacts. The contacts are electrically-conductive molten metal or molten salt, the molten material being continuously circulated to move it toward and into contact with the workpiece, so that it is not necessary to bend the workpiece to immerse it in a bath of molten material. The molten material is moved against the workpiece to form an extending portion of the molten material as a contact, by projecting it as a jet, pouring it as a stream, or causing it to flow over a subjacent supporting surface.