Processes for producing essentially nitride-free chromium or chromium plus niobium-containing nickel-based alloys containing nitrogen below 10 ppm comprising: a) charging elements or compounds of elements which do not dissolve appreciable amounts of nitrogen in the molten state to a refractory crucible within a vacuum induction furnace and melting said elements or compounds therein under reduced pressure; b) effecting heterogeneous carbon-based bubble nucleation in a controlled manner, thereby effecting substantial removal of nitrogen and oxygen from the melt; c) upon cessation of bubble formation, adding low nitrogen chromium or a low nitrogen chromium-containing master alloy with a nitrogen content of below 10 ppm to the melt, said chromium or chromium-containing alloy having been prepared: i) vacuum-degassing a thermite mixture comprising chromium compounds and metallic reducing agents, contained within a vacuum vessel capable of withstanding a thermite reaction, to an initial pressure less than 1 mbar; ii) igniting the thermite mixture to effect reduction of the chromium compounds within said vessel under reduced pressure; iii) solidifying the reaction products under reduced pressure; and iv) cooling the reaction products to about ambient temperature under reduced pressure, wherein steps ii) through iv) are conducted under a pressure below 1 bar; d) melting and distributing said added chromium or chromium-containing master alloy throughout the melt; e) bringing the resulting combined melt to a temperature and surrounding pressure to permit tapping; and f) tapping the resulting melt, directly or indirectly, to a metallic mold and allowing the melt to solidify and cool under reduced pressure. a) charging elements or compounds of elements which do not dissolve appreciable amounts of nitrogen in the molten state to a refractory crucible within a vacuum induction furnace and melting said elements or compounds therein under reduced pressure; b) effecting heterogeneous carbon-based bubble nucleation in a controlled manner, thereby effecting substantial removal of nitrogen and oxygen from the melt; c) upon cessation of bubble formation, adding low nitrogen chromium or a low nitrogen chromium-containing master alloy with a nitrogen content of below 10 ppm to the melt, said chromium or chromium-containing alloy having been prepared: i) vacuum-degassing a thermite mixture comprising chromium compounds and metallic reducing agents, contained within a vacuum vessel capable of withstanding a thermite reaction, to an initial pressure less than 1 mbar; ii) igniting the thermite mixture to effect reduction of the chromium compounds within said vessel under reduced pressure; iii) solidifying the reaction products under reduced pressure; and iv) cooling the reaction products to about ambient temperature under reduced pressure, wherein steps ii) through iv) are conducted under a pressure below 1 bar; i) vacuum-degassing a thermite mixture comprising chromium compounds and metallic reducing agents, contained within a vacuum vessel capable of withstanding a thermite reaction, to an initial pressure less than 1 mbar; ii) igniting the thermite mixture to effect reduction of the chromium compounds within said vessel under reduced pressure; iii) solidifying the reaction products under reduced pressure; and iv) cooling the reaction products to about ambient temperature under reduced pressure, wherein steps ii) through iv) are conducted under a pressure below 1 bar; d) melting and distributing said added chromium or chromium-containing master alloy throughout the melt; e) bringing the resulting combined melt to a temperature and surrounding pressure to permit tapping; and f) tapping the resulting melt, directly or indirectly, to a metallic mold and allowing the melt to solidify and cool under reduced pressure. <EOS>