Jing-she Li

Influence of FeO and sulfur on solid state reaction between MnO-SiO2-FeO oxides and an Fe-Mn-Si solid alloy during heat treatment at 1473 K

To clarify the influence of FeO and sulfur on solid state reaction between an Fe−Mn−Si alloy and MnO−SiO2−FeO oxides under the restricted oxygen diffusion flux, two diffusion couples with different sulfur contents in the oxides were produced and investigated after heat treatment at 1473 K. The experimental results were also compared with previous work in which the oxides contained higher FeO. It was found that although the FeO content in the oxides decreased from 3wt% to 1wt% which was lower than the content corresponding to the equilibrium with molten steel at 1873 K, excess oxygen still diffused from the oxides to solid steel during heat treatment at 1473 K and formed oxide particles. In addition, increasing the sulfur content in the oxides was observed to suppress the diffusion of oxygen between the alloy and the oxides.

Rational argon stirring for a 150-t ladle furnace

Based on the principle of similarity, water modeling experiments were carried out for a 150-t ladle furnace. The rational parameters of argon stirring were determined as the optimized positions of nozzles, top area of the porous brick, and gas flow rate. The following results are obtained: 1) the optimized positions of two nozzles are at 0.333R (R refers to the radius of the ladle at bottom) with an angle of 135°; 2) the top diameter of the porous brick should be 130 mm; 3) the flow rate of gas should be 25.0-30.6 m^3/h. The plant trial shows that the improved process is effective in enhancing the cleanliness of round billets. The total oxygen content, microinclusions, and macroinclusions in round billets are reduced by 12.5%, 8.2%, and 20%, respectively.

Characteristics analysis of inclusion of 60Si2Mn–Cr spring steel via experiments and thermodynamic calculations

A plant trial of the production of 60Si2Mn–Cr spring steel using silicon–manganese combined with aluminium to deoxidise was performed, and the characteristics of inclusions during ladle furnace refining, calcium treatment and in billets were investigated by scanning electron microscope–energy dispersive spectroscopy and thermodynamic calculations. The formation mechanisms of oxide and CaS inclusions are discussed. The experimental observation and thermodynamic analysis showed that calcium treatment cannot entirely modify large-size MgO·Al2O3 spinel inclusions into homogeneous CaO–MgO–Al2O3 inclusions, but formed a liquid xCaO·yAl2O3 layer on its surface. When the Al content was 0.05 mass%, [Mg], [Ca] and [O] in molten steel could be controlled at 2.7∼5 ppm, 2.5∼8 ppm and 4.1∼5.2 ppm, respectively, to achieve inclusions in the low melting point region. A large amount of CaS was generated in the present process due to a higher sulphur concentration in the molten steel and an excessive amount of Ca–Si wire. To avoid/reduce its formation, the sulphur concentration should be controlled to below 70 ppm.

Effects of elemental Sn on the properties and inclusions of the free-cutting steel

A new environment-friendly free-cutting steel alloyed with elemental Sn (Y20Sn) was developed to meet the requirements of machinability and mechanical properties according to GB/T8731—1988. The machinability of the steel is enhanced by the segregation of elemental Sn at grain boundaries. The effect of Sn segregation on intergranular brittle fracture at normal cutting temperature from 250°C to 400°C is confirmed. The formation mechanism of main inclusions MnS is influenced by the presence of Sn and the attachment of Sn around MnS itself as a surfactant, and this mechanism also explains the improvement in machinability and mechanical properties of the steel. In the steel, the relevant inclusions are mainly spherical or axiolitic, and are uniformly distributed in small volume. Such inclusions improve the machinability of the steel and do not impair the mechanical properties as well. Experimental results demonstrate that the appropriate content of Sn in the steel is 0.03wt% to 0.08wt%, and the remaining composition is close to that of standard Y20 steel.

Research on mineral processing for high silica low grade hematite ore in Xinjiang

Abstract In order to develop and utilise cheap iron ores with low quality for cost reduction, a hematite ore from Xinjiang province was investigated to determine the iron increase and silicon reduction using ore dressing process experiments. Results showed that iron concentrate with 61%Fe and iron recovery of 66% were achieved through the process flowsheet of grinding, high intensity magnetic separation, regrinding of coarse concentrate, clean concentration by high intensity magnetic separation, roughing reverse floatation and cleaning reverse floatation of the high intensity concentrate, with the tailings from this latter stage fed back into the roughing reverse floatation stage.