Diffusion of Oxygen in Molten Iron

Abstract

The interdiffusivity of oxygen in molten iron was measured by the capillary method over the temperature range from 1560 to 1660°. The sample melt in a magnesia crucible reacted with Ar-H₂OH₂gas.
When the initial oxygen content was below about 002%, the oxygen concentration in the lower part of the melt was increased abnormally during the process of diffusion. On the other hand, when the initial oxygen content was higher than about 002%, the abnormal behavior of oxygen was not observed.The abnormal phenomenon may be ascribed to surface diffusion of oxygen along the cruciblemelt interface. The diffusivity of oxygen which was obtained from the normal concentration profile agreed with that calculated from the total amount of oxygen diffused into the melt.
The result is expressed by the following Arrhenius-type equation.
D=(5.59±0.80)×10^-3 exp(-19500/±750/RT) (cm²/sec)
The present result is in good agreement with that obtained by MCCARRON and BELTON.