Abstract
A new kinetic model was developed to predict the dynamic change of the interfacial oxygen content and the steel/slag interfacial tension. This model mainly describes the following interfacial physicochemical phenomena: i) Silica decomposition and oxygen adsorption at the interface, ii) Oxygen and aluminum reactions at the interface, iii) Oxygen desorption from the interface, iv) Silica mass transfer from the slag to the interface, v) Dissolution of the formed alumina into the slag and its transfer in slag and vi) Blockage on the silica mass transfer, to come in contact with the steel, by the accumulation of the formed alumina at the interface. With this model, the dynamic changes of the interfacial oxygen contents under different aluminum contents in steel and different slag viscosities were predicted. Overall, the interfacial oxygen content was found to increase with a decreased aluminum content and a decreased slag viscosity. Furthermore, the aluminum reaction rate can significantly influence the interfacial oxygen content as well as the interfacial tension. In addition, the model captured the fast increase of the interfacial tension after passing the minimum value point for the system of a high-Al content steel and a low viscous slag, which is in agreement with the experimental observations. Furthermore, a parameter study was carried out to show the influence of various parameters on the dynamic interfacial phenomena.
