Physical and Mathematical Modeling of the Argon-Oxygen Decarburization Refining Process of Stainless Steel

The available studies in the literature on physical and mathematical modeling of the argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) process of stainless steel have briefly been reviewed. The latest advances made by the author with his research group have been summarized. Water modeling was used to investigate the fluid flow and mixing characteristics in the bath of an 18 t AOD vessel, as well as the 'back attack' action of gas jets and its effects on the erosion and wear of the refractory lining, with sufficiently full kinematic similarity. The non rotating and rotating gas jets blown through two annular tuyeres, respectively of straight tube and spiral flat tube type, were employed in the experiments. The geometric similarity ratio between the model and its prototype (including the straight tube type tuyeres) was 1:3. The influences of the gas flow rate, the angle included between the two tuyeres and other operating parameters, and the suitability of the spiral tuyere as a practical application, were examined. These latest studies have clearly and successfully brought to light the fluid flow and mixing characteristics in the bath and the overall features of the back attack phenomena of gas jets during the blowing, and have offered a better understanding of the refining process. Besides, mathematical modeling for the refining process of stainless steel was carried out and a new mathematical model of the process was proposed and developed. The model performs the rate calculations of the refining and the mass and heat balances of the system. Also, the effects of the operating factors, including adding the slag materials, crop ends, and scrap, and alloy agents; the non isothermal conditions; the changes in the amounts of metal and slag during the refining; and other factors were all considered. The model was used to deal with and analyze the austenitic stainless steel making (including ultra low carbon steel) and was tested on data of 32 heats obtained in producing 304 grade steel in an 18 t AOD vessel. The changes in the bath composition and temperature during the refining process with time can be accurately predicted using this model. The model can provide some very useful information and a reliable basis for optimizing the process practice of the refining of stainless steel and control of the process in real time and online.

Properties of ten-year-aged argon oxygen decarburization stainless steel slag

The characteristics of argon oxygen decarburization slag(AODS)for smelting stainless steel that has been aged for 10 years were analyzed.Three types of AODSs distributed at three positions in a slag heap were sampled for comparison experiments.Chemical analysis,mineral phase identification,thermogravimetric analysis,and micromorphology analysis were used to study the element migration trends and carbonation behavior of AODS after long-term aging.Sequential leaching tests were performed to study the chromium leachability of the aged AODS.The results show that during the long-term aging process,the AODS heap had undergone oxidation and carbonation,accompanied by element migration and mineralogical evolution.The surface slag had the highest degree of carbonation but the weakest chromium leachability.The chemical composition of the middle slag was the closest to that of the original slag.In the bottom steel slag,in addition to magnesium,certain depositions of other elements were present.The matrix phases in the aged slag were dicalcium silicate and merwinite,and the chromium was mainly wrapped in these matrix phases in the form of oxides,spinels,or alloys.Under the combined effects of carbonation and oxidation,the leaching characteristics of the chromium in the aged slag varied greatly depending on the location.The bottom slag had the strongest chromium leachability,and the hexavalent chromium had long-term continuous leachability.

A novel route to enhance high-temperature mechanical property and thermal shock resistance of low-carbon Mgo-C bricks by introducing ZrSiO_(4)

Conventional MgO-C bricks(graphite content>14 wt.%)produce a great deal of greenhouse gas emission,while low-carbon MgO-C bricks have serious thermal shock resistance during high-temperature service.To enhance the high-temperature mechanical property and thermal shock resistance of low-carbon MgO-C bricks,a novel route of introducing ZrSiO_(4) powder into low-carbon MgO-C bricks was reported in such refractories with 2 wt.% flaky graphite.The results indicate that the low-carbon MgO-C brick with 0.5 wt.%ZrSiO_(4) addition has the maximum hot modulus of rupture at 1400℃ and the corresponding specimen fired in the carbon embedded atmosphere has the maximum residual strength ratio(98.6%)after three thermal shock cycles.It is found that some needle-like AlON and plate-like Al_(2)O_(3)-ZrO_(2) composites were in situ formed in the matrices after the low-carbon MgO-C bricks were coked at 1400℃,which can enhance the high-temperature mechanical property and thermal shock resistance due to the effect of fiber toughening and particle toughening.Moreover,CO_(2) emission of the newly developed low-carbon MgO-C bricks is reduced by 58.3% per ton steel after using them as the working lining of a 90 t vacuum oxygen decarburization ladle.