Zhaoping Chen

Kinetics of nitrogen absorption in molten aisi 316 stainless steel during immersion nitrogen blowing

Nitrogen absorption in molten metal for stainless steel AISI316 has been investigated by immersion nitrogen blowing through an immersed alumina nozzle with an internal diameter of 3 mm. Based on these experimental data, some kinetic parameters of nitrogen absorption, such as reaction order, rate constant and apparent activation energy of nitrogen absorption reaction, have been obtained. Effect of stirring by immersion nitrogen blowing through an immersed alumina nozzle on nitrogen absorption reaction has been observed. Results show the following: (1) Nitrogen absorption reaction is the −1.5th order reaction. The rate constant kN is of the order of 10−5 wt%2.5·min−1. Nitrogen absorption reaction for AISI 316 has negative apparent activation energy of −92.40 kJ·mol−1. This indicates that the nitrogen absorption reaction has a complex and multistep reaction mechanism. (2) The rate of nitrogen absorption reaction in molten stainless steel is mixture control by the adsorption of monatomic nitrogen on the surface of molten stainless steel and mass transfer in molten metal. (3) A rate equation of nitrogen absorption reaction has been derived based on a mixed control mechanism by both the -1st order nitrogen absorption reaction and mass transfer in molten metal.