dross

plural drosses · alternative obsolete drosse

1. Waste or impure matter.
   1. uncountableusuallyResidue that forms as a scum on the surface of molten metal from oxidation.

      Synonyms: slag, scoria

   2. uncountableusuallyThe impurities in metal.
   3. uncountableusuallyA waste product from working with metal.

      One of the main problems with recycling and melting magnesium is the presence of particles in the melt which lead to the formation of dross and sludge. To be more precise, the necessary removal of dross and sludge greatly increase the costs of the facility. And, material is lost.

      2008, André Ditze, Christiane Scharf, Recycling of Magnesium, Ditze & Scharf, →ISBN, page 25

      1 more example

      Dross is related with the incomplete expulsion of the melt from the bottom of the kerf. For precision applications where the clean cutting edges are important the formation of dross at the bottom of the cutting kerf must be controlled. This requires deep understanding of the mechanisms of dross formation and the various materials and laser-cutting parameters which potentially control the formation of dross. For example, the highly cleaned (dross-free) cutting edges can be obtained in […]

      2008, Narendra B. Dahotre, Sandip Harimkar, Laser Fabrication and Machining of Materials, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 176

      Synonyms: slag

2. figurativelyuncountableusuallyWorthless or trivial matter.

   What thou lovest well remains, the rest is dross

   c. 1945, Ezra Pound, Canto LXXXI

   Synonyms: junk, rubbish

3. slanguncountableusuallyResidual raw opium left in an opium pipe which can be recycled for further sale or use.

present singular third person drosses · participle present drossing · participle past drossed · past drossed · alternative obsolete drosse

1. transitiveTo remove dross from.