Electron beam melting is distinguished by its superior refining capacity and offers a high degree of flexibility of the heat source. Thus, it is ideal for remelting and refining of metals and alloys under high vacuum in water-cooled copper molds. Today the process is mainly employed for the production of refractory and reactive metals (tantalum, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, hafnium, zirconium, titanium) and their alloys. It plays an important role in manufacturing of ultra-pure sputtering target materials and electronic alloys and the recycling of titanium scrap.
