Estimation of the possibility of refining metallic melts using an electric field in vacuum

A formula is suggested for determining approximately the intensity of vaporizing fields of molten metals that compensates the influence of factors unaccounted for by an effective size of removed particles. The intensities of the vaporizing fields of molten metals were determined at melting points, and molten metals were shown to vaporize preferably as positive ions with a valency state chapge. The possibility of refining molten metals in an electric field by removing metallic impurities under a high vacuum by increasing the temperature and the field intensity is shown. Determined were the intensities of the vaporizing fields of metallic impurities in molten iron. The possibility of prifying molten iron to atomic purity through removal of surface-act.ive impurities of lower vaporizing field intensities is shown as well