Patent ID: 8795408

Claim:
A method for controlling an introduction of a plurality of metals into a cavity configured to melt the metals for dip-coating a steel strip with the metals in a form of molten metal, which comprises the steps of: introducing a first metal in a form of at least one first alloy ingot having a content of the first metal; and introducing a second metal in a form of at least one second ingot formed as an alloy of the first metal and the second metal, a second metal percentage content of the second ingot being selected from a range of significant contents for ensuring an intended overall rate of combined melting of the first and second ingots to form a combined ingot, the range of significant contents being selected from within a limited span of sequentially increasing values at or near a eutectic point of the combined ingot so as to minimize differences between melting points of the first and second ingots and impart minimal temperature gradients of the metals introduced into the cavity.