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2024.08.08

Thermic Lance Cutting Application for Non-ferrous Metals

Thermic Lance has long been known as a tool used for cutting and melting ferrous metals. But what many people don't know is that Thermic Lance also plays an important role in the production of non-ferrous metals, especially nickel, tin, copper, and aluminum. If you are curious to know what specific characteristic of the non-ferrous metal production process makes the application of Thermic Lance useful, please read the following article.

Thermic Lance Cutting Application for Non-ferrous Metals

Applications of Thermic Lance for Ferrous Metals

To meet the demand for high-temperature cutting and demolition, we have introduced two Thermic Lance models, Type T and Type W, as well as the advanced Rolled Thermic Lance, capable of producing temperatures exceeding 4,000°C.

While the inner pipe structure and shape of the three Thermic Lance types differ, resulting in variations in flame characteristics, they all share a common strength: the ability to quickly and effectively melt and cut materials.

Structure of Daiwa Thermic Lance (Type T)Structure of Daiwa Thermic Lance (Type W)Daiwa Rolled Thermic Lance

In our previous articles, we've shared the useful features of Thermic Lance for steel plants (ferrous metals), including: cutting hard materials, demolishing buildings, removing slags in steel mills, scrap cutting in scrapyards, and tap hole opening in furnaces. However, how is non-ferrous metal applied? Specifically, in what cases can we effectively apply Thermic Lance to increase productivity and reduce costs for foundries?

To answer this question, let's take a brief look at the nature of some common non-ferrous metals such as nickel, tin, copper, and aluminum, as well as the challenges involved in their production.Application of Daiwa Thermic Lance (By Usage)

Characteristics and Difficulties of Producing Non-ferrous Metals

1. High Melting Point

Non-ferrous metals such as nickel, copper, or aluminum have a closely packed crystal structure and strong bonds, resulting in high melting points. This makes melting processes time-consuming and cutting more difficult. The specific melting points of nickel, copper, and aluminum are as follows.

  • Nickel (Ni): 1,455°C
  • Copper (Cu): 1,085°C
  • Aluminum (Al): 660.3°C

2. High Hardness

Some non-ferrous metals, like nickel, have a closely packed crystal lattice, strong metallic bonds, and small grain sizes. Additionally, they often undergo hardening during processing, leading to extremely high hardness. Consequently, melting and cutting processes become more challenging and time-consuming.

3. High Ductility

Slag tends to accumulate on the sides of the furnace during melting. And the high ductility of non-ferrous metals like tin causes the slag to adhere more strongly to the furnace walls, creating a layer that hinders the flow of molten metal and reduces furnace capacity. Moreover, the presence of slag also means the heat demand for melting needs to be higher.

4. Temperature-resistant Equipment Required 

During the melting process, the temperature inside the furnace is usually much higher than the melting point of the metal to ensure a rapid and uniform melting process. Therefore, if the melting and tapping equipment cannot withstand high temperatures it will become wear and tear easily over the time.

Advantages of Using Thermic Lance in Non-ferrous Metal Manufacturing

Given the challenges we've mentioned, Daiwa Thermic Lance is the ideal choice for your furnace. Here's why.

1. Melting and Cutting 

The melting point of non-ferrous metals is already quite high. However, in reality, the temperature required to cut through non-ferrous metal ores is even higher due to the presence of numerous alloying elements within the ore.

Therefore, a cutting tool that is precise, fast, powerful, generates high heat, and can reach temperatures exceeding 4,000°C is exactly what you need.

The iron wires within Thermic Lance, when exposed to an ignited flame, undergo a chemical reaction with oxygen to produce Fe2O3 and generate heat. This reaction produces temperatures exceeding 4,000°C, quickly breaking down the strong bonds that result in high melting point and high hardness within the non-ferrous metal ore.

Compared to other types of lances, none can achieve the high level of temperature like Thermic Lance. Ordinary black pipes, for instance, typically produce temperatures of only about 850°C to 2000°C.

2. Tapping

Tapping

To extract molten metal from the furnace, the tapping hole at the furnace bottom needs to be opened first. Thermic Lance this time can be effectively used to open the hard-to-break tapping hole by leveraging its super high heat cutting power. The persistent sticky slags that are dissolved in high ductility molten metal that hinders the metal flow will also be quickly removed under the high-temperature impact of Thermic Lance.

The final issue related to rapid corrosion, which reduces the lifespan of the tapping equipment caused by molten metal, will also be smoothly resolved thanks to the robust steel composition of Thermic Lance's outer pipe.

3. Cleaning

After melting and cooling, the slag on furnace walls may solidify, becoming hard and difficult to remove. Neglecting to clean this hardened slag reduces furnace capacity and significantly prolongs the melting time of molten metal.

By utilizing a heat-generating material undergoing an exothermic chemical reaction, specifically Thermic Lance, the accumulated slag can be melted and removed, effectively addressing the persistent issue of long-term slag buildup. 

Conclusion

Thermic Lance is more than just a tool; it's the ultimate solution for numerous challenges in steel and non-ferrous metal production. With its ability to generate high heat in a short amount of time, Thermic Lance enhances productivity and extends furnace lifespan. Want to experience the difference? Contact us for consultation and sample orders. We guarantee fast delivery, professional technical support, and high-quality, durable products.

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Thermic Lance Cutting Application for Non-ferrous Metals

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