Abstract
A kinetic study has been made on SiO2 inclusion removal from molten Cu to slag (Li2O-SiO2-Al2O3) under static and mechanical stirring conditions. From optical microscopic observation (×400), it is found that SiO2 inclusions in the metal have spherical shape. The inclusion radius is less than 8.25 μm under the present experimental conditions. The oxygen content which originates from SiO2 inclusions in the metal phase agrees with the total oxygen content reasonably well. Hence, the change in the total oxygen concentration of the metal, [mass%O]T, corresponds to that in the amount of inclusions in the metal. A rate constant of inclusion removal, kO is obtained from the log [mass%O]T-time relation. In the range of the rotation speed of the stirrer in the present experiment, the change in the mechanical stirring condition does not affect the rate of inclusion removal from the metal phase. But the rate of inclusion removal under static condition is lower than that under mechanical stirring condition. The rate constant, ko, increases with increasing the initial oxygen concentration, [mass%O]TO.
