3969105 A abstract an agent suitable to treat metals to for example desulfurize steel is disclosed the treating agent is produced by coating a porous body with molten magnesium oxidizing the magnesium coating and then impregnating the oxide coated porous body with magnesium application_number US 53704874 A description in one embodiment of the present invention an iron or iron alloy body or sponge having interconnecting pores therein is exposed to a reducing atmosphere at a temperature of from about 1500 u00b0 to about 1700 u00b0 f generally the sponge is maintained within this temperature range for at least about 0 5 hours however shorter times can also be employed when the sponge is contaminated with little organic matter the so treated iron sponge is then at least partially and preferably substantially entirely coated with molten magnesium the magnesium surface layer is then synthetically oxidized by exposure to an oxidizing atmosphere at an elevated temperature preferably the magnesium oxide layer is at least about 0 005 inch in depth subsequent submersion of the magnesium oxide coated sponge in molten magnesium results in substantially complete impregnation of the sponge with magnesium reproducability of the penetration of the iron sponge with magnesium is improved by exposure of the iron to the.