Thermodynamic Analysis of Copper Melt Deoxidation with Lanthanum

Using rare earth metals as deoxidizers is an efficient way of getting highly deoxidized copper melt required for certain bronzes production. Thermodynamic modeling of phase equilibria in the Cu–La–O system in the temperature range of 1100–1300 °С was performed to assess a possible depth of copper melt deoxidation with lanthanum, and also to determine the resulting oxide phases. During the experimental part of the work, Cu–La–O system metal samples were melted and then studied with the JEOL JSM 6460-LV scanning electron microscope equipped with the energy-dispersive spectrometer providing electron microprobe analysis to specify formed nonmetallic inclusion type.