dead-melt

— ... thirdly, subjecting the molten metal, after the addition of carbon and silicon, to a dead-melt under a neutral flame until the silicon shall be oxidized to the required degree, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

— ...but if cast immediately it is found that a much larger quantity of gas separates during solidification, rendering the steel porous, than is evolved if the metal is dead-melted, i.e., allowed to remain melted for an extra half hour or more, presumably from the reaction of the iron oxide interspersed throughout the steel upon the carbon evolving carbon oxide during the earlier period...