1996 Volume 36 Issue 1 Pages 1-6
The effect of initial total oxygen concentration, [mass%O]T0, on the rate of inclusion removal from molten copper has been investigated.
Under the mechanical stirring condition, it is found that the rate constant of inclusion removal, kO, is dependent on [mass%O]T0 and almost independent of the rotation speed of stirrer. From the results of microscopic observation of inclusion particles with SEM, size distribution of inclusion particles is obtained. The rate constant, kO, increases with increasing initial value of number density and mean radius of inclusion particles. Agglomeration of inclusion particles affects the rate of inclusion removal.
Under Ar gas injection stirring condition, kO increases with increasing gas flow rate, while it does not apparently depend on [mass%O]T0, and the effect of the agglomeration on the rate of inclusion removal is much smaller than that under the mechanical stirring condition. It is considered that the inclusion particles are removed from the melt mainly through adhesion to the gas bubble-metal interface.
