Vacuum oxygen decarburization
The VOD method ( Vacuum Oxygen Decarburization ) is a decarburization for RSH steels , in which the liquid in the steel dissolved carbon by top-blown oxygen in carbon monoxide is converted. This rises to the bath surface and leaves the liquid steel due to the low pressure. The vacuum environment is created by further treating the ladle with the liquid steel alloy in a vacuum vessel . The burn-off of the alloying elements is minimized in this state and the lowest harmful hydrogen content is achieved.