Effect of Stirring on Oxidation Rate of Molten Steel

Abstract

As basic research to quantify the oxidation rate of molten steel in tundish, oxidation experiments were performed on nonkilled molten steel sand aluminum-killed molten steel on laboratory scale, and the effect of stirring on the oxidation rate was studied. The following conclusions were derived. The oxidation rate of the nonkilled molten steel by air is not affected by stirring and is controlled by the diffiusion of O₂ gas in the gas phase. Stirring changes the oxidation rate because of breaking the oxide film in the oxidation process of the aluminum-killed molten steel by air. The oxidation rate of the aluminum-killed molten steel in the still state is controlled by the diffusion of oxygen in the oxide film, while the oxidation rate of the aluminum-killed molten steel in the stirred state is controlled by the diffusion of O₂ gas in the gas phase.