Showing papers in "Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B-process Metallurgy and Materials Processing Science in 2017"

Transformation of Oxide Inclusions in Type 304 Stainless Steels during Heat Treatment

Abstract: Heat treatment of Type 304 stainless steel in the range of 1273 K (1000 °C) to 1473 K (1200 °C) can transform manganese silicate inclusions to manganese chromite (spinel) inclusions. During heat treatment, Cr reacts with manganese silicate to form spinel. The transformation rate of inclusions depends strongly on both temperature [in the range of 1273 K to 1473 K (1000 °C to 1200 °C)] and inclusion size. A kinetic model, developed using FactSage macros, showed that these effects agree quantitatively with diffusion-controlled transformation. A simplified analytical model, which can be used for rapid calculations, predicts similar transformation kinetics, in agreement with the experimental observations.

MTDATA and the Prediction of Phase Equilibria in Oxide Systems: 30 Years of Industrial Collaboration

Abstract: This paper gives an introduction to MTDATA, Phase Equilibrium Software from the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), and describes the latest advances in the development of a comprehensive database of thermodynamic parameters to underpin calculations of phase equilibria in large oxide, sulfide, and fluoride systems of industrial interest. The database, MTOX, has been developed over a period of thirty years based upon modeling work at NPL and funded by industrial partners in a project co-ordinated by Mineral Industry Research Organisation. Applications drawn from the fields of modern copper scrap smelting, high-temperature behavior of basic oxygen steelmaking slags, flash smelting of nickel, electric furnace smelting of ilmenite, and production of pure TiO2via a low-temperature molten salt route are discussed along with calculations to assess the impact of impurities on the uncertainty of fixed points used to realize the SI unit of temperature, the kelvin.

Fabrication of Copper-Rich Cu-Al Alloy Using the Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing Process

Abstract: An innovative wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) process is used to fabricate Cu-9 at. pct Al on pure copper plates in situ, through separate feeding of pure Cu and Al wires into a molten pool, which is generated by the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process. After overcoming several processing problems, such as opening the deposition molten pool on the extremely high-thermal conductive copper plate and conducting the Al wire into the molten pool with low feed speed, the copper-rich Cu-Al alloy was successfully produced with constant predesigned Al content above the dilution-affected area. Also, in order to homogenize the as-fabricated material and improve the mechanical properties, two further homogenization heat treatments at 1073 K (800 °C) and 1173 K (900 °C) were applied. The material and mechanical properties of as-fabricated and heat-treated samples were compared and analyzed in detail. With increased annealing temperatures, the content of precipitate phases decreased and the samples showed gradual improvements in both strength and ductility with little variation in microstructures. The present research opened a gate for in-situ fabrication of Cu-Al alloy with target chemical composition and full density using the additive manufacturing process.

Refractory–Slag–Metal–Inclusion Multiphase Reactions Modeling Using Computational Thermodynamics: Kinetic Model for Prediction of Inclusion Evolution in Molten Steel

Abstract: The refractory–slag–metal–inclusion multiphase reaction model was developed by integrating the refractory–slag, slag–metal, and metal–inclusion elementary reactions in order to predict the evolution of inclusions during the secondary refining processes. The mass transfer coefficient in the metal and slag phase, and the mass transfer coefficient of MgO in the slag were employed in the present multiphase reactions modeling. The “Effective Equilibrium Reaction Zone (EERZ) Model” was basically employed. In this model, the reaction zone volume per unit step for metal and slag phase, which is dependent on the ‘effective reaction zone depth’ in each phase, should be defined. Thus, we evaluated the effective reaction zone depth from the mass transfer coefficient in metal and slag phase at 1873 K (1600 °C) for the desulfurization reaction which was measured in the present study. Because the dissolution rate of MgO from the refractory to slag phase is one of the key factors affecting the slag composition, the mass transfer coefficient of MgO in the ladle slag was also experimentally determined. The calculated results for the variation of the composition of slag and molten steel as a function of reaction time were in good agreement with the experimental results. The MgAl2O4 spinel inclusion was observed at the early to middle stage of the reaction, whereas the liquid oxide inclusion was mainly observed at the final stage of the refining reaction. The content of CaO sharply increased, and the SiO2 content increased mildly with the increasing reaction time, while the content of Al2O3 in the inclusion drastically decreased. Even though there is slight difference between the calculated and measured results, the refractory–slag–metal multiphase reaction model constructed in the present study exhibited a good predictability of the inclusion evolution during ladle refining process.

Experimental Investigation of Gas/Slag/Matte/Tridymite Equilibria in the Cu-Fe-O-S-Si System in Controlled Atmospheres: Development of Technique

Abstract: The majority of primary pyrometallurgical copper making processes involve the formation of two immiscible liquid phases, i.e., matte product and the slag phase. There are significant gaps and discrepancies in the phase equilibria data of the slag and the matte systems due to issues and difficulties in performing the experiments and phase analysis. The present study aims to develop an improved experimental methodology for accurate characterisation of gas/slag/matte/tridymite equilibria in the Cu-Fe-O-S-Si system under controlled atmospheres. The experiments involve high-temperature equilibration of synthetic mixtures on silica substrates in CO/CO2/SO2/Ar atmospheres, rapid quenching of samples into water, and direct composition measurement of the equilibrium phases using Electron Probe X-ray Microanalysis (EPMA). A four-point-test procedure was applied to ensure the achievement of equilibrium, which included the following: (i) investigation of equilibration as a function of time, (ii) assessment of phase homogeneity, (iii) confirmation of equilibrium by approaching from different starting conditions, and (iv) systematic analysis of the reactions specific to the system. An iterative improved experimental methodology was developed using this four-point-test approach to characterize the complex multi-component, multi-phase equilibria with high accuracy and precision. The present study is a part of a broader overall research program on the characterisation of the multi-component (Cu-Fe-O-S-Si-Al-Ca-Mg), multi-phase (gas/slag/matte/metal/solids) systems with minor elements (Pb, Zn, As, Bi, Sn, Sb, Ag, and Au).

Agglomeration of Non-metallic Inclusions at Steel/Ar Interface: In - Situ Observation Experiments and Model Validation

Abstract: Better understanding of agglomeration behavior of nonmetallic inclusions in the steelmaking process is important to control the cleanliness of the steel. In this work, a revision on the Paunov simplified model has been made according to the original Kralchevsky–Paunov model. Thus, this model has been applied to quantitatively calculate the attractive capillary force on inclusions agglomerating at the liquid steel/gas interface. Moreover, the agglomeration behavior of Al2O3 inclusions at a low carbon steel/Ar interface has been observed in situ by high-temperature confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The velocity and acceleration of inclusions and attractive forces between Al2O3 inclusions of various sizes were calculated based on the CLSM video. The results calculated using the revised model offered a reasonable fit with the present experimental data for different inclusion sizes. Moreover, a quantitative comparison was made between calculations using the equivalent radius of a circle and those using the effective radius. It was found that the calculated capillary force using equivalent radius offered a better fit with the present experimental data because of the inclusion characteristics. Comparing these results with other studies in the literature allowed the authors to conclude that when applied in capillary force calculations, the equivalent radius is more suitable for inclusions with large size and irregular shape, and the effective radius is more appropriate for inclusions with small size or a large shape factor. Using this model, the effect of inclusion size on attractive capillary force has been investigated, demonstrating that larger inclusions are more strongly attracted.

A Kinetic Ladle Furnace Process Simulation Model: Effective Equilibrium Reaction Zone Model Using FactSage Macro Processing

Abstract: The ladle furnace (LF) is widely used in the secondary steelmaking process in particular for the de-sulfurization, alloying, and reheating of liquid steel prior to the casting process. The Effective Equilibrium Reaction Zone model using the FactSage macro processing code was applied to develop a kinetic LF process model. The slag/metal interactions, flux additions to slag, various metallic additions to steel, and arcing in the LF process were taken into account to describe the variations of chemistry and temperature of steel and slag. The LF operation data for several steel grades from different plants were accurately described using the present kinetic model.

Corrosion Resistance Behavior of Single-Layer Cathodic Arc PVD Nitride-Base Coatings in 1M HCl and 3.5 pct NaCl Solutions

Abstract: The electrochemical behavior of single-layer TiN, CrN, CrAlN, and TiAlN coatings on 304 stainless steel substrate, deposited using state-of-the-art and industrial size cathodic arc PVD machine, were evaluated in 1M HCl and 3.5 pct NaCl solutions. The corrosion behavior of the blank and coated substrates was analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear polarization resistance, and potentiodynamic polarization. Bond-coat layers of pure-Ti, pure-Cr, alloyed-CrAl, and alloyed-TiAl for TiN, CrN, CrAlN, and TiAlN coatings were, respectively, first deposited for improved coating adhesion before the actual coating. The average coating thickness was about 1.80 µm. Results showed that the corrosion potentials (E corr) of the coated substrates were shifted to more noble values which indicated improvement of the coated substrate resistance to corrosion susceptibility. The corrosion current densities were lower for all coated substrates as compared to the blank substrate. Similarly, EIS parameters showed that these coatings possessed improved resistance to defects and pores in similar solution compared to the same nitride coatings developed by magnetron sputtering. The charge transfer resistance (R ct) can be ranked in the following order: TiAlN > CrN > TiN > CrAlN in both media except in NaCl solution where R ct of TiN is lowest. While the pore resistance (R po) followed the order: CrAlN > CrN > TiAlN > TiN in HCl solution and TiAlN > CrN > CrAlN > TiN in NaCl solution. It is found that TiAlN coating has the highest protective efficiencies of 79 and 99 pct in 1M HCl and 3.5 pct NaCl, respectively. SEM analysis of the corroded substrates in both media was also presented.

Agglomeration of Non-metallic Inclusions at the Steel/Ar Interface: Model Application

Abstract: Inclusion agglomeration is an important element in several industrial problems during steelmaking, such as nozzle clogging. In parallel work by the authors, a revised Kralchevsky-Paunov model has been established and the performance of this model has been validated against the experimental data from in-situ observations using confocal laser scanning microscopy. In this work, the revised model has been applied to quantitatively evaluate the attractive capillary force for the agglomeration of various inclusions at the interface between Ar and liquid iron/steel. A parametric study of the effects on the capillary force of the inclusion density, contact angle between the inclusion and liquid steel, and the surface tension of the liquid metal are quantitatively investigated. The results show that inclusion density and contact angle have a more marked effect on the capillary force than surface tension of liquid metal. Moreover, the inclusion agglomeration behavior in the liquid iron/steel matrix is discussed. The coagulation coefficient of various inclusions is calculated. Both the calculation results of the attractive capillary force of inclusions at the interface between Ar and liquid iron/steel and coagulation coefficient of inclusions in the liquid iron/steel matrix can offer a close agreement; moreover, the order of magnitude of inclusion agglomeration tendency is suggested. By using the coagulation coefficient, the inclusion collision volume and collision rate are calculated and the effects of inclusion composition, size, and number density are investigated. The evaluation results show that the tendency for affecting inclusion collision is inclusion number density > inclusion size > inclusion composition.

Mold Simulator Study of Heat Transfer Phenomenon During the Initial Solidification in Continuous Casting Mold

Abstract: In this paper, mold simulator trials were firstly carried out to study the phenomena of the initial shell solidification of molten steel and the heat transfer across the initial shell to the infiltrated mold/shell slag film and mold. Second, a one-dimensional inverse heat transfer problem for solidification (1DITPS) was built to determine the temperature distribution and the heat transfer behavior through the solidifying shell from the measured shell thickness. Third, the mold wall temperature field was recovered by a 2DIHCP mathematical model from the measured in-mold wall temperatures. Finally, coupled with the measured slag film thickness and the calculations of 1DITPS and 2DIHCP, the thermal resistance and the thickness of liquid slag film in the vicinity of the meniscus were evaluated. The experiment results show that: the total mold/shell thermal resistance, the mold/slag interfacial thermal resistance, the liquid film thermal resistance, and the solid film thermal resistance is 8.0 to 14.9 × 10−4, 2.7 to 4.8 × 10−4, 1.5 to 4.6 × 10−4, and 3.9 to 6.8 × 10−4 m2 K/W, respectively. The percentage of mold/slag interfacial thermal resistance, liquid film thermal resistance, and solid film thermal resistance over the total mold/shell thermal resistance is 27.5 to 34.4, 17.2 to 34.0, and 38.5 to 48.8 pct, respectively. The ratio of radiation heat flux is around 14.1 to 51.9 pct in the liquid slag film.

Hydrogen Plasma Processing of Iron Ore

Abstract: Iron is currently produced by carbothermic reduction of oxide ores. This is a multiple-stage process that requires large-scale equipment and high capital investment, and produces large amounts of CO2. An alternative to carbothermic reduction is reduction using a hydrogen plasma, which comprises vibrationally excited molecular, atomic, and ionic states of hydrogen, all of which can reduce iron oxides, even at low temperatures. Besides the thermodynamic and kinetic advantages of a hydrogen plasma, the byproduct of the reaction is water, which does not pose any environmental problems. A review of the theory and practice of iron ore reduction using a hydrogen plasma is presented. The thermodynamic and kinetic aspects are considered, with molecular, atomic and ionic hydrogen considered separately. The importance of vibrationally excited hydrogen molecules in overcoming the activation energy barriers, and in transferring energy to the iron oxide, is emphasized. Both thermal and nonthermal plasmas are considered. The thermophysical properties of hydrogen and argon–hydrogen plasmas are discussed, and their influence on the constriction and flow in the of arc plasmas is considered. The published R&D on hydrogen plasma reduction of iron oxide is reviewed, with both the reduction of molten iron ore and in-flight reduction of iron ore particles being considered. Finally, the technical and economic feasibility of the process are discussed. It is shown that hydrogen plasma processing requires less energy than carbothermic reduction, mainly because pelletization, sintering, and cokemaking are not required. Moreover, the formation of the greenhouse gas CO2 as a byproduct is avoided. In-flight reduction has the potential for a throughput at least equivalent to the blast furnace process. It is concluded that hydrogen plasma reduction of iron ore is a potentially attractive alternative to standard methods.

Experimental Investigation of Gas/Slag/Matte/Tridymite Equilibria in the Cu-Fe-O-S-Si System in Controlled Gas Atmospheres: Experimental Results at 1473 K (1200 °C) and P (SO 2 ) = 0.25 atm

Abstract: Experimental studies were undertaken to determine the gas/slag/matte/tridymite equilibria in the Cu-Fe-O-S-Si system at 1473 K (1200 °C), P(SO2) = 0.25 atm, and a range of P(O2)’s. The experimental methodology involved high-temperature equilibration using a substrate support technique in controlled gas atmospheres (CO/CO2/SO2/Ar), rapid quenching of equilibrium phases, followed by direct measurement of the chemical compositions of the phases with Electron Probe X-ray Microanalysis (EPMA). The experimental data for slag and matte were presented as a function of copper concentration in matte (matte grade). The data provided are essential for the evaluation of the effect of oxygen potential under controlled atmosphere on the matte grade, liquidus composition of slag and chemically dissolved copper in slag. The new data provide important accurate and reliable quantitative foundation for improvement of the thermodynamic databases for copper-containing systems.

Large-Eddy Simulation of Transient Horizontal Gas–Liquid Flow in Continuous Casting Using Dynamic Subgrid-Scale Model

Abstract: Euler–Euler simulations of transient horizontal gas–liquid flow in a continuous-casting mold are presented. The predictions were compared with previous experimental measurements by two-channel laser Doppler velocimeter. Simulations were performed to understand the sensitivity to different turbulence closure models [k–ɛ, shear stress transport (SST), Reynolds stress model (RSM), and large-eddy simulation (LES)] and different interfacial forces (drag, lift, virtual mass, wall lubrication, and turbulent dispersion). It was found that the LES model showed better agreement than the other turbulence models in predicting the velocity components of the liquid phase. Furthermore, an appropriate drag force coefficient model, lift force coefficient model, and virtual mass force coefficient were chosen. Meanwhile, the wall lubrication force and turbulent dispersion force did not have much effect on the current gas–liquid two-phase system. This work highlights the importance of choosing an appropriate bubble size in accordance with experiment. Finally, coupled with the optimized interfacial force models and bubble size, LES with a dynamic subgrid model was used to calculate the transient two-phase turbulent flow inside the mold. More instantaneous details of the two-phase flow characteristics in the mold were captured by LES, including multiscale vortex structures, fluctuation characteristics, and the vorticity distribution. The LES model can also be used to describe the time-averaged gas–liquid flow field, giving reasonably good agreement with mean experimental data. Thus, LES can be used effectively to study transient two-phase flow inside molds.

Investigation of RE-O-S-As Inclusions in High Carbon Steels

Abstract: The formation of RE-O-S-As inclusions is an inevitable issue when rare earth (RE) elements are used to modify the existing state of residual element arsenic. The evolution process of La-O-S-As inclusions in high carbon steels was investigated under conditions of different La contents. An in-situ sample preparation method was used to prepare film samples. The results show that it is practical to add RE elements to stabilize arsenic by generating As-bearing RE inclusions. A new type of As-bearing RE inclusion was discovered and identified as LaAsO4. As La content increased from 0.003 to 0.089 wt pct, the dominant inclusions of the La-O-S-As system changed from La2O3 to La2O2S, then to La2O2S-LaAsO4, and finally to LaAsO4. A full model of the inclusion formation of the RE-O-S-As system was also established to describe what kind of inclusion to form in conditions of different atomic ratios of RE/O and RE/S. The first As-bearing RE inclusion is RE-O-As or RE-S-As, and RE-O-S-As inclusions can be controlled to form certain inclusions that make O and S useful to modify the existing state of arsenic.

Transition of Blast Furnace Slag from Silicate-Based to Aluminate-Based: Structure Evolution by Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract: To determine the effect of Al2O3 content and Al2O3/SiO2 mass ratio on the structure of molten aluminosilicate systems, CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO-TiO2 systems were investigated by conducting molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and Raman spectroscopy. The capabilities of different elements to attract O on the basis of bond length are ranked as follows: Si > Al > Ca. The CNSi-O (approximately 4) and the average CNAl-O (approximately 4.09) demonstrate that the [AlO4] tetrahedron is not as stable as the [SiO4] tetrahedron and that some highly coordinated Al units exist in the slags. Non-bridging oxygen prefers to be coordinated with Si, and Al tends to be localized in polymerized environments as a network intermediate phase. In addition, Ca2+ is more energetically active than Mg2+ as the charge compensation ion. MD results and Raman analysis show that an increase in Al2O3 content complicates the structure at a fixed CaO/SiO2 ratio. In addition, the viscosity of the sample may increase with increasing Al2O3 content but is also influenced by polymerization strength. The substitution of Al2O3 for SiO2 simplifies the structure of the slag at a fixed CaO concentration when Al2O3/SiO2 is less than 0.92, as indicated by the (Q4 + Q3)/(Q2 + Q1) ratio of Al and the structure complexity. The results of MD and Raman analysis agree with those of viscosity measurement.

Effect of Mg Addition on the Refinement and Homogenized Distribution of Inclusions in Steel with Different Al Contents

Abstract: To investigate the effect of Mg addition on the refinement and homogenized distribution of inclusions, deoxidized experiments with different amounts of aluminum and magnesium addition were carried out at 1873 K (1600 °C) under the condition of no fluid flow. The size distribution of three-dimensional inclusions obtained by applying the modified Schwartz–Saltykov transformation from the observed planar size distribution, and degree of homogeneity in inclusion dispersion quantified by measuring the inter-surface distance of inclusions, were studied as a function of the amount of Mg addition and holding time. The nucleation and growth of inclusions based on homogeneous nucleation theory and Ostwald ripening were discussed with the consideration of supersaturation degree and interfacial energy between molten steel and inclusions. The average attractive force acted on inclusions in experimental steels was estimated according to Paunov’s theory. The results showed that in addition to increasing the Mg addition, increasing the oxygen activity at an early stage of deoxidation and lowering the dissolved oxygen content are conductive to the increase of nucleation rate as well as to the refinement of inclusions Moreover, it was found that the degree of homogeneity in inclusion dispersion decreases with an increase of the attractive force acted on inclusions, which is largely dependent on the inclusion composition and volume fraction of inclusions.

Investigation of the Air-Argon-Steel-Slag Flow in an Industrial RH Reactor with VOF–DPM Coupled Model

Abstract: A coupled three-dimensional volume of fluid method–discrete phase model (VOF–DPM) is developed to investigate the air-argon-steel-slag flow in an industrial Rheinsahl–Heraeus (RH) reactor while considering the expansion of argon bubbles The simulated results of mixing time and recirculation flow rate of molten steel, and the flow pattern and local velocity of water agree well with the measured results reported in the literature Comparison of the results with and without consideration of the expansion of bubbles indicates that the expansion of bubbles has an enormous impact on the multiphase flow in the industrial RH reactor The proposed mathematical model presents a more realistic free surface in the RH vacuum vessel

Transition of Blast Furnace Slag from Silicates-Based to Aluminates-Based: Viscosity

Abstract: The effect of Al2O3 and the Al2O3/SiO2(A/S) ratio on the viscosity of the CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO-TiO2 slag system was studied in the present work. At a fixed CaO/SiO2(C/S) ratio of 1.20, 9 mass pct MgO, and 1 mass pct TiO2, the viscosity increases with an increase in Al2O3 content at a range of 16 to 24 mass pct due to the polymerization of the aluminosilicate structures, while it decreases when the Al2O3 is higher than 24 mass pct, which means that Al2O3 acts as a network modifier at higher content. Increasing A/S from 0.47 to 0.92 causes a slight decrease in viscosity of the slags and has an opposite effect when A/S is more than 0.92. The free running temperature increases with the Al2O3 content and appears to show a peak at an A/S ratio of 0.92. The change of the apparent activation energy is in accordance with the change of viscosity. When Al2O3 content is more than 24 mass pct with low SiO2, CaO content ranges from 35 to 45 mass pct, and the slag transform from silicates-based to aluminates-based can still get a good operation region. Four different viscosity models were employed to predict the viscosity and RIBOUD’s model was found to be the best in predicting the viscosity by comparing the estimated viscosity with the measured viscosity.

Applications of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) in Molten Metal Processing

Abstract: In order for metals to meet the demand for critical applications in the automotive, aerospace, and defense industries, tight control over the composition and cleanliness of the metal must be achieved. The use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for applications in metal processing has generated significant interest for its ability to perform quick analyses in situ. The fundamentals of LIBS, current techniques for deployment on molten metal, demonstrated capabilities, and possible avenues for development are reviewed and discussed.

Transformation of Inclusions in Pipeline Steels During Solidification and Cooling

Abstract: Experimental and thermodynamic considerations on the transformation of inclusions during cooling process of pipeline steel were carried out. In plant trials, CaO-Al2O3 type inclusions in molten steel were fully or partially transformed into MgO-CaO-Al2O3-CaS type in a slab depending on the size. The transformation details were revealed by thermodynamic calculations. The deviations between experimental and calculated results are discussed.

Filtration Efficiency of Functionalized Ceramic Foam Filters for Aluminum Melt Filtration

Abstract: The influence of filter surface chemistry on the filtration efficiency of cast aluminum alloys was evaluated for four different filter coating compositions (Al2O3—alumina, MgAl2O4—spinel, 3Al2O3·2SiO2—mullite, and TiO2—rutile). The tests were conducted on a laboratory scale with a filtration pilot plant, which facilitates long-term filtration tests (40 to 76 minutes). This test set-up allows the simultaneous use of two LiMCAs (before and after the filter) for the determination of the efficiency of inclusion removal. The four tested filter surface chemistries exhibited good thermal stability and mechanical robustness after 750 kg of molten aluminum had been cast. All four filter types exhibited a mean filtration efficiency of at least 80 pct. However, differences were also observed. The highest filtration efficiencies were obtained with alumina- and spinel-coated filter surfaces (>90 pct), and the complete removal of the largest inclusions (>90 µm) was observed. The efficiency was slightly lower with mullite- and rutile-coated filter surfaces, in particular for large inclusions. These observations are discussed in relation to the properties of the filters, in particular in terms of, for example, the surface roughness.

Valorization of BOF Steel Slag by Reduction and Phase Modification: Metal Recovery and Slag Valorization

Abstract: Basic oxygen furnace (BOF) steel slag is a main byproduct in steelmaking, and its valorization is therefore of considerable interest, from a metal-recovery perspective and from a residue-utilization perspective. In the present study, the carbothermic reduction of BOF slag was investigated systematically. The reductions of Fe- and P-containing phases (i.e., oxide and compounds) are discussed. Effects of Al2O3 and SiO2 additions on the solidification microstructure and mineralogy associated with the reduction processes were also investigated. The formation and growth of the extracted metallic phase are discussed, and the mineralogy of the residue slag is determined. We conclude that by controlling the additions under a rapid cooling condition, it is possible to extract metallic iron as high-grade metal and simultaneously to utilize the remaining slag for construction applications.

Mass Transfer Model of Desulfurization in the Electroslag Remelting Process

Abstract: Experimental and theoretical studies have been carried out to investigate the effects of the slag on desulfurization during the electroslag remelting (ESR) process with a focus of developing a mass transfer model to understand the mechanism of desulfurization. Stainless steel 1Cr21Ni5Ti was used as the electrode and remelted with two different kinds of slags using a 50-kg ESR furnace. The contents of sulfur along the axial direction of product ingots were analyzed. It was found that the sulfur content of 350 ppm in the electrode is reduced to 71 to 95 ppm in the ingot by remelting with the slag containing 5 wt pct of CaO, and lowered more to 47 to 59 ppm with another slag having 20 wt pct CaO. On the basis of the penetration and film theories, the theoretical model developed in this work well elucidates the kinetics of desulfurization revealing the mechanism of sulfur transfer during the ESR process. The calculation results obtained from the model agree well with the experimental results. The model indicates that when sulfur content in electrode is given, there is a corresponding minimum value of sulfur content in the ingot due to the kinetics limit. This lowest sulfur content cannot be further reduced even with increasing L S (sulfur distribution coefficient between metal and slag phases) or decreasing sulfur content in the slag. Constant addition of extra amount of CaO to the molten slag with the increase of sulfur content in the slag during the remelting process can improve the macrosegregation of sulfur distributed along the axial direction of ESR ingots. Since the rate-determining steps of the sulfur mass transfer lie in the metal phase, adding calcium as deoxidizer can change mass transfer of sulfur and thus promote desulfurization further during the ESR process.

Compatibility of Lead-Bismuth Eutectic with SiC-Coated Graphite at Elevated Temperature

Abstract: Uniform coating of β-silicon carbide (β-SiC) was formed over a graphite pellet through slurry-based silicon coating followed by in situ reaction at 1873 K (1600 °C). The coated pellet was exposed to molten lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) at 1173 K (900 °C) in static condition for 200 h. Weight loss measurement, X-ray diffraction, and secondary electron microscopy–energy-dispersive spectroscopy confirmed that the SiC coating could effectively prevent molten LBE from attacking the inner graphite material.

Evolution of Oxide Inclusions in Si-Mn Killed Steels During Hot-Rolling Process

Abstract: The evolution of oxide inclusions in Si-Mn killed steels refined by slags of different basicity during a four-pass industrial hot-rolling process was investigated using an automated microscopy system. High-basicity refining slag induced the formation of CaO- and Al2O3-containing inclusions, while refining slag with 0.8 basicity induced dominant inclusions of SiO2 and MnO-SiO2. CaO-SiO2-Al2O3 inclusions mainly formed endogenously during solidification and cooling of Ca-containing steels, where Ca originated from slag-steel reactions. However, the larger-sized higher-CaO inclusions originated from slag entrainment. Different inclusions presented different hot-rolling behaviors. The inclusion composition changed by deformation and new phase formation. The dominant oxide types were unchanged under refinement by low-basicity slag; however, they changed under refinement with high-basicity slag. The deformation index of inclusions decreased with increasing accumulated reduction (AR) of the steel. The difference in deformation index between different inclusion types was the largest in the first rolling stage and decreased in subsequent stages. SiO2-CaO and SiO2-MnO-CaO inclusions had larger deformation indices during hot rolling but smaller indices in the last two stages. High-basicity slag increased inclusion complexity; from the perspective of cold-drawing performance, low-basicity refining slag is better for the industrial production of tire-cord steels.

Experimental and Theoretical Studies on the Viscosity–Structure Correlation for High Alumina-Silicate Melts

Abstract: Blast furnaces are encountering high Alumina (Al2O3 > 25 pct) in the final slag due to the charging of low-grade ores. To study the viscosity behavior of such high alumina slags, synthetic slags are prepared in the laboratory scale by maintaining a chemical composition of Al2O3 (25 to 30 wt pct) CaO/SiO2 ratio (0.8 to 1.6) and MgO (8 to 16 wt pct). A chemical thermodynamic software FactSage 7.0 is used to predict liquidus temperature and viscosity of the above slags. Experimental viscosity measurements are performed above the liquidus temperature in the range of 1748 K to 1848 K (1475 °C to 1575 °C). The viscosity values obtained from FactSage closely fit with the experimental values. The viscosity and the slag structure properties are intent by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. It is observed that increase in CaO/SiO2 ratio and MgO content in the slag depolymerizes the silicate structure. This leads to decrease in viscosity and activation energy (167 to 149 kJ/mol) of the slag. Also, an addition of Al2O3 content increases the viscosity of slag by polymerization of alumino-silicate structure and activation energy from 154 to 161 kJ/mol. It is witnessed that the activation energy values obtained from experiment closely fit with the Shankar model based on Arrhenius equation.

Modeling Manganese Silicate Inclusion Composition Changes during Ladle Treatment Using FactSage Macros

Abstract: This work investigated the use of FactSage macros to simulate steel–slag and steel–inclusion reaction kinetics in silicon-manganese killed steels, and predict oxide inclusion composition changes during ladle treatment. These changes were assessed experimentally using an induction furnace to simulate deoxidation and slag addition. The average steel mass transfer coefficient for the experimental setup was calculated from the analyzed aluminum pick-up by steel. Average oxide inclusion composition was measured using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to assess the physical state (solid or liquid) of oxide inclusions in selected samples. The changes in the chemical compositions of the oxide inclusions and the steel agreed with the FactSage macro simulations.

Modification of Inclusions in Molten Steel by Mg-Ca Transfer from Top Slag: Experimental Confirmation of the ‘Refractory-Slag-Metal-Inclusion (ReSMI)’ Multiphase Reaction Model

Abstract: High-temperature experiments and Refractory-Slag-Metal-Inclusion (ReSMI) multiphase reaction simulations were carried out to determine the effect of the ladle slag composition on the formation behavior of non-metallic inclusions in molten steel. Immediately after the slag-metal reaction, magnesium migrated to the molten steel and a MgAl2O4 spinel inclusion was formed due to a reaction between magnesium and alumina inclusions. However, the spinel inclusion changed entirely into a liquid oxide inclusion via the transfer of calcium from slag to metal in the final stage of the reaction. Calcium transfer from slag to metal was more enhanced for lower SiO2 content in the slag. Consequently, the spinel inclusion was modified to form a liquid CaO-Al2O3-MgO-SiO2 inclusion, which is harmless under steelmaking conditions. The modification reaction was more efficient as the SiO2 content in the slag decreases.

Experimental and Modeling Study on Reduction of Hematite Pellets by Hydrogen Gas

Abstract: Gaseous reduction by hydrogen was performed for three types of hematite pellets, two from industry and one prepared in the laboratory. The reduction mechanisms of the pellets were studied based on the morphologies of the partially reduced samples. Two mechanisms were found, the mechanisms of the two types of industrial pellets being very similar. The degree of reduction was followed as a function of time for each type of pellets. On the basis of the reaction mechanism of the industrial pellets, a mathematical model was developed. As a pioneer effort, the model combined the computational fluid dynamics approach for the flow and mass transfer in the gas phase with model of gas diffusion in the solid phase as well as the description of the chemical reaction at the reaction sites. The calculation results agreed well with the experimentally obtained reduction curves. The present work also emphasized the importance of evaluation of the reduction mechanisms and the properties of different types of iron ore pellets prior to developing a process model. While the present approach has established a good foundation for the dynamic modeling of the shaft reactor, more efforts are required to accomplish a realistic process model.

On the Capability of Nonmetallic Inclusions to Act as Nuclei for Acicular Ferrite in Different Steel Grades

Abstract: Acicular ferrite nucleates intragranularly on nonmetallic inclusions, forming a microstructure with excellent fracture toughness. The formation of acicular ferrite is strongly affected by the size, content, and composition of nonmetallic inclusions, but also by the composition of the steel matrix. The potential of inclusions in medium carbon HSLA (high-strength low-alloyed) steels has been the main focus in the literature so far. The current study evaluates the acicular ferrite capability of various inclusions types in four different steel grades with carbon contents varying between 0.04 and 0.65 wt pct. The investigated steels are produced by melting experiments on a laboratory scale and subsequent heat treatment in a High-Temperature Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope. Inclusions are exclusively formed by deoxidation and desulfurization reactions. No synthetic particles are added to the melt. The inclusion landscape is analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Final ductility of the samples is evaluated based on performed tensile tests. Inclusion types in every steel grade are assessed regarding their nucleation potential always considering the interaction with the steel composition, especially focusing on the role of manganese. The effects of (Ti,Al)Ox-, MnS-, and MgO-containing inclusions are discussed in detail.