Temperature Distributions in the Slag and Metal Pools in a Laboratory-scale ESR Furnace

Abstract

Temperature distributions in the slag and metal pools during electroslag remelting have been measured using BN sheathed thermocouples imerted through the mould wall.
The main results are as follows:
(1) The slag temperature varies from 1700 to 1950°C, depending on the applied voltage. (2) The average temperature of slag bulk is fairly uniform with lower applied voltages. (3) The temperature in the metal pool is 1500-1550°C independent on melting conditions. (4) The melting rate is controlled by the slag temperature as well as the heat transfer to the electrode. (5) The heat input from the metal pool to the solidification front is larger by two times or more than the generation of the latent heat of solidification. (6) On the basis of thermodynamics it is suggested that chemical reactions such as the reduction of Al₂O₃ do not take place at the slag-metal pool interface.