Systematics of the Thermodynamics of Metallurgical Melting Processes.

An attempt is made to consider in a uniform manner, from the viewpoint of the driving force of all metallurgical reactions ( DELTA G degree ), such different metallurgical phenomena as the stability of compounds, the distinction between noble and ignoble metals, oxidation and reduction processes, reduction of oxides with carbon (direct reduction) and with CO-CO//2 and H//2-H//2O gas mixtures (indirect reduction), melting and vaporization processes, and the electrochemistry of metallurgical processes, especially as a function of temperature. Although these processes are discussed only for pure materials, application to solutions (materials with lower activities) is also considered. The treatment has been kept on such a general level that it applies to all metals.