Jae Hong Shin

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

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.

Effect of Slag Chemistry on the Desulfurization Kinetics in Secondary Refining Processes

Desulfurization behavior was investigated based on a wide slag composition and working temperature range. Moreover, the rate-controlling step (RCS) for desulfurization with regard to the ladle-refining conditions and the transition of the RCS by changing the slag composition was systematically discussed. The desulfurization ratio reached an equilibrium value within approximately 15 minutes irrespective of the CaO/Al2O3 (=C/A = 1.3 to 1.9) and CaO/SiO2 (=C/S = 3.8 to 6.3) ratios. However, the desulfurization behavior of less basic slags (C/A = 1.1 or C/S = 1.9) exhibited a relatively sluggish [S]-decreasing rate as a function of time. The equilibrium S partition ratio increased with an increase in slag basicity (C/A and C/S ratio), not only due to an increase in sulfide capacity but also due to a decrease in oxygen activity in the molten steel. There was a good correlation between the calculated and measured S partition ratios at various slag compositions. However, the measured S partition ratio increased by adding 5 pct CaF2, followed by a constant value. Multiphase slag exhibited a relatively slow desulfurization rate compared to that of fully liquid slag, possibly due to a decrease in the effective liquid slag volume, interfacial reaction area, and a relatively slow slag initial melting rate due to a high melting point. The activation energy of the desulfurization process was estimated to be 58.7 kJ/mol, from which it was proposed that the desulfurization reaction of molten steel via CaO-Al2O3-SiO2-MgO-CaF2 ladle slag was generally controlled by the mass transfer of sulfur in the metal phase. However, there was a transitional period associated with the rate-controlling mechanism due to a change in the physicochemical properties of the slag. For slag with a viscosity greater than about 1.1 dPa·s and an equilibrium S partition ratio lower than about 400, the overall mass-transfer coefficient was affected by the slag properties. Hence, it was theoretically and experimentally confirmed that the RCS of the desulfurization process under secondary refining conditions was strongly dependent on thermodynamic driving forces as well as the viscosity of the slag.

Erratum to: Effect of Slag Chemistry on the Desulfurization Kinetics in Secondary Refining Processes

JIN GYU KANG, JAE HONG SHIN, and JOO HYUN PARK are with the Department of Materials Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Korea. Contact email: basicity@hanyang.ac.kr YONGSUG CHUNG is with the Department of Advanced Materials Engineering, Korea Polytechnic University, Siheung 429-793, Korea. The online version of the original article can be found under doi: 10.1007/s11663-017-0948-2. Article published online April 27, 2017.