Mechanism of yttrium in deep desulfurization of NiCoCrAlY alloy during vacuum induction melting process

Abstract In this study, yttrium as desulfurizer on the purification of Ni–20Co–20Cr–10Al–Y alloy during vacuum induction melting (VIM) process using Y 2 O 3 crucibles was investigated experimentally. It is found that Y plays an important role on the desulfurizing of the NiCoCrAlY alloy. Without any addition of Y, merely the employment of Y 2 O 3 crucibles could effectively reduce S content of the alloy melts from 28 × 10 −6 to 6 × 10 −6 –7 × 10 −6 . With addition of 0.8 wt% Y in the alloy, the concentration of S could further reduce 2 × 10 −6 –3 × 10 −6 . The primary interactive mechanism between Y and molten alloy was concluded to be the synthesis reaction of Ni 3 Y phase, Y 2 S 3 phases and YAlO 3 phase. In the desulfurize slags, Y 2 S 3 phases and YAlO 3 phase are found. No secondary contamination is present in the alloy melts after addition of Y.