Experimental and thermodynamic investigations on MnO-SiO_2-Al_2O_3-MnS system

MnO-SiO₂-Al₂O₃-MnS oxysulfide system has been investigated by experimental phase diagram and activity measurement coupled with thermodynamic modeling.Phase equilibria of the MnO-MnS,MnO-SiO₂-MnS, MnO-Al₂O₃-MnS and MnO-SiO₂-Al₂O₃-MnS systems under low oxygen partial pressure have been experimentally investigated for the temperature range of 1 185 to 1 500℃using equilibration and quenching techniques. Equilibrium phases were analyzed by scanning electron microscope,electron probe X-ray microanalysis（EPMA）, and differential thermal analysis（DTA ）.Phase diagrams were successfully constructed for the systems investigated.Two ternary compounds in the MnO-SiO₂-MnS system were found.Activities of MnO and MnS in MnO-SiO₂-Al₂O₃-MnS liquid oxysulfide solution from very low sulfur concentration to high sulfur concentration at solid MnS saturation were investigated employing gas/liquid/Pt - Mn alloy under controlled atmosphere at 1 500℃.As X（SiO₂）/（X（MnO） + X（SiO₂）） increases in liquid oxysulfide solution,activity coefficient of MnO decreases while that of MnS increases.As X(AlO_1.5) increases,the activity coefficient of MnS increases while no remarkable change was observed for the activity coefficient of MnO.Quantitative analysis of the thermodynamic properties of the oxysulfide solution as well as phase diagram of the system was also earned out by employing the Modified Quasichemical Model in the quadruplet approximation.In view of inclusion utilization for free - cutting steel,it might have an advantage to decrease the Al₂O₃ content and increase the MnO/SiO₂ ratio.