Study Of Metal Extraction and Forming

An induction furnace is an electrical furnace in which the heat is applied by induction heating of metal. The advantage of the induction furnace is a clean, energy-efficient and well-controllable melting process compared to most other means of metal melting.
Most modern foundries use this type of furnace and now also more iron foundries are replacing cupolas with induction furnaces to melt cast iron, as the former emit lots of dust and other pollutants.
Induction furnace capacities range from less than one kilogram to one hundred tonnes capacity. These furnaces are used to melt iron and steel, copper, aluminium and precious metals. In this furnace, arc or combustion is not used. As such the temperature of the material is not high than required to melt it. It can prevent loss of valuable alloying elements. The one major drawback to induction furnace is the lack of refining capacity therefore it use is limited in foundry. Another drawback is that charge materials must be clean to reduce oxidation of products as some alloying elements may be lost due to oxidation.