PURPOSE: To provide a deoxidant retaining uniform dispersion even under application of external force such as vibration and having high reactivity with oxygen in the air, prepd. by mixing homogeneously iron powder and powered electrolyte with specified particle sizes.

CONSTITUTION: The deoxidant is prepd. by mixing homogeneously 100pts.wt. iron powder (e.g. pure iron or ferro-nickel in powder) having such a particle size that more than 50wt% of the particles pass a 150-mesh sieve with about 0.01W 100pts.wt. powdered electrolyte (e.g. NaCl2 or NaSO4 in powder) having such a particle size that more than 50wt% of the particles pass a 150-mesh sieve, in a mixer such as a ball mill, screw blender, etc.