Question

Why are flux added to the charge ( parent metal to be melted) during melting of a metal?

(a) To increase carbon content

(b) To increase refractoriness

(c) To add specific oxides

(d) To remove specific oxides

This question was posed to me during a job interview.

This question is from Furnaces for Melting topic in chapter Pouring – Gating Design, Melting Furnaces, Melting and Casting Quality of Casting-Forming-Welding I

Answer 1

The correct answer is (d) To remove specific oxides

Easy explanation: The flux is a chemical substance, added to the metal while melting it to remove oxides present in the metal.