Distribution Ratio of Copper and Tin between Iron and Ca–Pb alloy at 1823 K

Abstract

The ability of calcium to absorb copper and tin is investigated in order to know the possibility to remove such tramp elements in iron by calcium. In this work, molten iron is equilibrated with Ca–Pb alloy at 1823 K, and the distribution ratio of Cu and Sn between iron and Ca–Pb alloy is directly measured at 1823 K. The mass distribution ratio of M (M: Cu or Sn) between Fe and Ca–Pb alloy, L_M (mass), is defined by L_M (mass) = {mass%M}/[mass%M], where {mass%M} and [mass%M] denote the M contents of Ca–Pb alloy and of Fe, respectively. The mass distribution ratio of Cu between iron and Ca–Pb alloy is increased with an increase of calcium activity. The maximum value is 17 in the measured range of calcium activity in this work. The mass distribution ratio of Sn between iron and Ca–Pb alloy is increased with an increase of calcium activity. The maximum value is 440 in the measured range of calcium activity in this work. Calcium is considered to be effective to remove tin in iron, in particular. If pure calcium is equilibrated with iron directly at 1823 K, the higher distribution ratios of 3400 for Pb and 200 for Cu are expected.