Method of producing molded bodies for use in electric smelting furnaces

Claim 1

IN THE PRODUCTION OF METALS AND METAL ALLOYS FROM METAL OXIDES WHICH ARE WHOLLY OR PARTLY REDUCED IN AN ELECTRIC FURNACE INTO METAL SUB-OXIDES WHICH ARE VOLATILE AT THE TEMPRATURES OF REDUCTION AND TEND TO ESCAPE FROM THE FURNACE, SAID METAL OXIDE INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE OXIDE SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SILICON AND ALUMINUM OXIDES, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES FORMING PELLETS WHICH HAVE A CORE CONTAINING SAID METAL OXIDE AND A SHELL CONTAINING A SOLID CARBONACEOUS REDUCING AGENT, THE PROPORTION OF METAL OXIDE IN SAID CORE BEING IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT WHICH CAN BE REDUCED BY ANY CARBONACEOUS REDUCING AGENT WHICH IS CONTAINED IN SAID CORE, AND THE PROPORTION OF CARBONACEOUS REDUCING AGENT CONTAINING IN THE SHELL SURROUNDING SAID CORE BEING IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT REQUIRED FOR REDUCTION OF ANY METAL OXIDE CONTAINED IN SAID SHELL, AND THEN HEATING SAID PELLETS TO TEMPERATURES AT WHICH REDUCTION OF SAID METAL OXIDE TAKES PLACE, WHEREBY LOSS OF METAL OXIDE FROM ESCAPE OF THE VOLATILE METAL SUB-OXIDES IS MINIMIZED.