Deoxidation of Liquid Steel with Molten Slag by Using Electrochemical Method

Abstract

A new unpolluted deoxidation method for liquid steel was given in this paper. Four deoxidation experiments were done, under the conditions of applied voltage U=0, 2 V, 4 V and 6 V between the liquid steel and CaO(45 wt%)–Al₂O₃(55 wt%) molten slag. The results showed that the deoxidation rate increased as increasing of applied voltage. In addition, based on the oxygen diffusion behavior under the gradient of electrochemical potential, the kinetics formulae for deoxidation of steel with molten slag electrochemistry method are derived. The formulae can well describe the change of dissolved oxygen content in the steel. From the formulae it can be concluded that deoxidation rate could be enhanced by strengthening the stirring of steel, increasing the applied voltage, and selecting slag system with a high basicity and a low viscosity, etc.