Basic Process
A process of making steel by blowing the metal in converters lined with dolomite in place of gannister, as in the Bessmer process. Dolomite is a magnesian limestone, which, being well burned and ground, is mixed with tar to give it consistency. This can then be rammed in the converters, or pressed into bricks for lining with. This basic lining absorbs some of the phosphorous present in the iron, the rest being taken up by the lime, which constitutes about 15 per cent of the charge, and is introduced before the molten iron enters the converter. See BESSEMER STEEL; CONVERTER; GANNISTER; DOLOMITE.
Basin is sometimes termed a pouring-basin, or runner, and is a suitably formed reservoir constructed with sand within a wood or iron box-frame. Its purpose is to receive the metal from the pouring-ladle, and connection with the mould is made by down-runners, which lead from its lowest part, either to the mould direct, or to some system of runners which lead to it. See DOWN-GATE; GATES; RUNNER; BASIN.
Bath. See TINNING; TIN-PLATE.