Study on the Mechanism of Desulphurization of a Molten Iron Stirred by Rocking Motion

Abstract

By the use of laboratory scale rocking furnace, carbon saturated liquid iron ([%S]=0.5-0.7) was desulphurized by calcium carbide powder in the temperature range from 1250 to 1450°C with rocking speed of 0 to 36%c/min, and mechanism of the reaction was investigated.
The mass transfer coefficient K obtained by the experimental results may be expressed by the following equation.
K= (1.6×10¹⁰·Rc+1.1×10¹⁰) 1/2exp (-40000/RT)
where Rc is rocking speed, R and T are gas constant and temperature (°K), respectively.
However, it could not be definitely determined whether the chemical reaction or the diffusion controls the desulphurization process from the value of apparent activation energy obtained.