Wetting Behaviors of Steels Containing Al and Al–S on Solid CaO

Abstract

Wettability between refining agent and molten steel is an important factor in the refining process due to its great influence on the reaction interface. In the present study, wetting behaviors of steels containing Al and Al–S on CaO substrates were investigated by the sessile drop method at 1550°C in order to understand the interfacial phenomena during the refining of steel with solid CaO. Contact angle of steel containing Al on a CaO substrate was smaller than that of pure iron. The contact angle decreased with the smaller addition of Al, which could be explained from the amount of slag formation by the reaction between steel and CaO. The contact angle of steel containing Al–S was larger with the higher initial Al content and increased during the holding. It was mostly affected by the surfactant effect by soluble sulfur, and the wettability deteriorated by the progress of desulfurization.