Abstract
Removal of copper and tin in molten steel was investigated in a laboratory scale plasma furnace. It was found that the removal of copper and tin proceeded by both argon-hydrogen plasma and argon plasma even at 105 Pa. The degrees of removal of those elements were much greater at reduced pressures, at higher hydrogen contents in the plasma gas, and at higher plasma gas flow rates. Maximum degrees of removal of copper and tin were about 90 and 60% respectively in 2 h.
The removal of copper is thought to take place through accelerated evaporation at the very high temperature hot spot created by the plasma. However, the removal rate is assumed to be controlled by the transport of gaseous species evaporating from the melt surface.
