Nitride capacities in CaO–SiO2 and CaO–SiO2–Al2O3 melts

Nitride capacities, , defined by (mass-% N) · in the CaO–SiO₂ and CaO–SiO₂–AI₂O₃ melts were measured in the temperature range of 1 723 to 1 923 K by a gas-slag equilibration technique using CaO, Al₂O₃, and Mo crucibles. Nitrogen content in slag, (mass-% N), was proportional to oxygen partial pressure, , to the power of ?3/4 at constant nitrogen partial pressure, . The values for increased linearly with increasing temperature and increased with the content of nitride formers, SiO₂ and Al₂O₃, but the effect of SiO₂ on value was found to be greater than that of Al₂O₃. The activity coefficients of Si_3/4N in the CaO–SiO₂ melts tended to increase with increasing the content of SiO₂.     

The oxygen pressure of dilute FexO‐CaO‐Al2O3 slag in equilibrium with liquid iron

The relationship between slag composition and oxygen partial pressure of dilute Fe_xO‐CaO‐Al₂O₃ slag in equilibrium with iron the activity of which is below 1 was extrapolated to give the oxygen partial pressure of a slag equilibrated with iron of the activity 1. In the process of extrapolation, the oxygen partial pressure and the activity of iron were unified to give a single thermodynamic quantity which is defined as: , where K(x) is the equilibrium constant for the formation reaction of Fe_xO and is considered to be a function of x. The dependence of on the slag composition was obtained experimentally. On the other hand, it was found that the plot of against log a_Fe has the slope ?1 as expected from the theoretical consideration. The relation has been employed to estimate the composition of slag in equilibrium with liquid iron. Thus, the obtained composition is used to calculate the values of and of the slag in equilibrium with liquid iron.     

Thermodynamic behaviour of Cu in molten Fe‐C‐S alloys at high temperatures

The activity of Cu in molten Fe‐C‐S alloys at high temperatures was measured by a thermochemical equilibration technique. The effects of the contents of Cu, C, and S in the molten alloy as well as temperature on the activity coefficient of Cu in pure and carbon‐saturated iron were determined by measuring the distribution ratio of Cu between molten silver and Fe‐C‐S alloy melts. In molten pure iron and carbon‐saturated iron, the activity coefficient of Cu under infinite dilution, was measured as 11.0 and 28.5, respectively, at 1823K. The interaction parameters between Cu and Cu, S, C in the molten iron at 1823K were estimated: . The dependence of in molten Fe‐C alloy on temperature was determined as follows: pure iron: , carbon‐saturated iron: . Combining the effects of temperature and those of alloying components, the activity coefficient of Cu in the molten Fe‐C‐S alloy could be estimated as follows: .     

Conventional chemical potentials of elements in dilute ferrous solution

Conventional thermochemical standard data are defined for dissolved elements i in iron. The standard partial enthalpy and entropy and in ideal dilute solution are described as simple temperature functions a_i and b_i are constants and denotes the partial molar heat capacity, which may be considered constant within a certain temperature range. From and further functions are derived, e.g. the conventional standard chemical potential and the modified Planck function β_i. The constants a_i, b_i, are evaluated and compiled for α-, γ, δ-iron as well as for liquid iron, as far as experimental data are available. In addition to the standard data the first order interaction coefficients for elements dissolved in liquid iron at 1873 K have been revised and tabulated.     

Equilibrium between ammonia-hydrogen mixtures and the ε phase of iron

Foils made from pure iron with a porous structure were nitrided in mixtures of pure and entirely decomposed ammonia until constant weight was reached. The relationship between nitriding potential, temperature and concentration was measured in the ε region between 350 and 725°C and at concentrations between and . This relationship can be mathematically represented, if the ε phase is considered to be a subregular solution of nitrogen in hexagonal iron. From the Gibbs free energy of the nitrogen in the gas phase, the numerical relation and the parameters L′ = ? 600 000 + 775.6 T J/mole L″ = 1270000 ? 1423 T J/mole are deduced. The results of a calculation of the (γ + ε)/ε phase boundary using this equations are in accordance with an experimental measurement.     

Control of the aluminium-oxygen reaction in pure iron melts

Modified electrochemical oxygen sensors based on CaO-doped ZrO₂ and Y₂O₃-doped ThO₂ were developed and applied to study the aluminium-oxygen reaction in pure liquid iron with special regard to the provision of reliable experimental conditions and the attainment of true chemical equilibrium. The sensors represent valuable tools particularly for EMF long-term measurements over several hours. At 1600 °C, values of the constant and of the interaction parameters and were determined. When Fe-O-Al melts are covered with a slag phase at an activity a(Al₂O₃) < 1, e.g., CaO-saturated CaO-Al₂O₃ slag, the Al-O relationship in the iron may nevertheless be controlled by an equilibrium oxide phase at an activity a(Al₂O₃) = 1, presumably represented by inclusion particles consisting of pure Al₂O₃.     

Thermodynamics of iron oxide in FexO‐dilute CaO + Al2O3 + SiO2 + FexO slags at 1873 K

The ferrous and ferric ion capacities, and , for the slag of CaO + Al₂O₃ + SiO₂ are determined at 1873 K by means of the distribution equilibrium of iron between Fe_xO dilute slags of the system and Pt + Fe alloys under a controlled atmosphere. Compared with the values of for CaO + Al₂O₃ binary slag at a constant ratio of Al₂O₃ to decreases with an increase in SiO₂ content. Nearly linear relationships are observed between the logarithm of the ferrous and ferric ion capacities and the optical basicity. Applying these capacities, the relationship between (%Fe^T) and PO₂ under iron saturation, as well as the iron redox equilibrium in slag in relation to the optical basicity were discussed.     

Solubility of calcium in Fe-Ca-Xi melts

The equilibrium experiments on liquid Fe-Ca-X_i were carried out in a high pressure induction furnace in dense CaO crucibles. The solubility of calcium, saturated with CaO, in iron was determined as a function of temperature under 10 bar argon pressure. In pure iron the maximum solubility of calcium at 1 600°C is 0.03 wt.%. The alloying elements silicon, aluminium and nickel remarkably increase the calcium solubility in iron, whereas manganese causes an almost negligible increase. Chromium significantly reduces calcium solubility. The opposite influence of chromium and nickel on calcium solubility is balanced in an 18/8 steel. The interaction parameters of the alloying elements in the solvent iron with respect to Raoultian standard state are as follows:      

CaO-activities and structure of CaO-Al2O3-melts

By using structure chemical results taken from IR-spectroscopic analyses, the CaO-activity was calculated. In liquid state the aluminates dissociate into Ca²⁺ and into the complexes and . By application of the Temkin-theory the CaO-acitivity can be calculated and compared with measured values.     

Measurement of aluminum or silicon activity in Fe-Ni (< 30 %) alloys using mullite and ZrO2-based solid electrolyte galvanic cell

Using mullite (3Al₂O₃·2SiO₂)-tube type and ZrO₂ (MgO mole fractions of 9 %)-plug type solid electrolyte, the activities of Al in the Fe-15, 29% Ni-0.002 to 0.84% Al (mass contents in%) alloys were measured at 1873 K in an Al₂O₃ crucible, and those of Si in the Fe-13, 28% Ni-0.13 to 2.3% Si alloys were measured at 1823 K in a mullite crucible with an excess of SiO₂. The interaction coefficients of and were determined as ?0.0173 ± 0.0052 and 0.00021 ± 0.00007, respectively, and those of and were determined as 0.0094 ± 0.0049 and ?0.00008 ± 0.00004, respectively. The oxygen activities obtained by the EMF measurements were compared with those obtained from the contents of analyzed oxygen. The oxygen activities in the Fe-Ni-Al alloys were found to be supersaturated. The interaction coefficients of and were determined as 0.0027 ± 0.0012 and 0.00012 ± 0.00004, respectively, from the contents of analyzed oxygen in Fe-Ni-Si alloys.     

Activities of FexO in CaO + CaF2 + SiO2 + FexO quaternary slags by disposable electrochemical oxygen probes

The activities of Fe_xO in CaO + CaF₂ + SiO₂ + Fe_xO quaternary slags were measured by means of solid-oxide galvanic cell. The Fe_xO activities in the slags are influenced by CaF₂ as well as SiO₂. At constant Fe_xO mole fractions, e.g., , at low SiO₂ mole fractions i.e., , the substitution of CaF₂ for CaO has an effect of raising the Fe_xO activity. At higher SiO₂ mole fractions, e.g., , however, such an effect becomes insignificant.     

Thermodynamics of nitrogen in CaO-TiO2-TiO1.5 slags

The nitride capacities in CaO-TiO₂-TiO_1.5 slags, and nitrogen distribution ratio between these slags and liquid Cu (L_N = (mass-% N)/[mass-% N]) were measured by a gas-slag-metal equilibration technique, using a Mo crucible in the temperature range of 1823 to 1923 K under controlled partial pressures of oxygen and nitrogen . The values for , (mass-% Ti³⁺)/(mass-% Ti⁴⁺) ratio, and solubility of TiN in CaO-TiO₂-TiO_1.5 slags were obtained as a function of slag composition (X_CaO = 0.24 ～ 0.39) and temperature. Activity coefficients of TiN were evaluated from the values for activity coefficients of Ti in liquid Cu which were calculated from the results of TiN saturation experiments.     

Denitrogenation of steel melts with oxygen and sulphur by injection of argon under reduced pressure

Denitrogenation of steel melts with oxygen and sulphur was studied under reduced pressure by injection of argon. The rate of nitrogen desorption was found to obey a reaction of second order. The macrokinetic rate increases with increasing Ar flowrate until bubble coalescence occurs in the melts. The effects of sulphur and oxygen on nitrogen desorption were evaluated from the experimental data. The dimensionless rate constant for nitrogen is described by . A reasonable agreement was obtained in comparison with the results of other investigators.     

Structural statements,coordination numbers and water vapour solubility in aluminate slags

The IR emission of liquid CaO-Al₂O₃ slags is caused by IR active molecule vibrations of and -complexes. In the liquid CaO-Al₂O₃ slags the equilibrium dominates. At lower temperatures (1000°C) the formation of condensed -complexes was observed (glassy state). By the addition of B₂O₃ to CaO-Al₂O₃ slags B-O-Al associations were formed. Since the emission bands of the aluminate complexes overlap, a curve fitting with Gaussian functions was carried out to separate the bands. Furthermore, this quantitative evaluation leads to statements concerning the ratios between the different molecules. With the increase in temperature these associations are dissociated. In CaF₂-CaO-Al₂O₃ slags with higher contents of CaF₂, Al-O-F complexes with the coordination number 4 are present. Water vapour is dissoluted in liquid CaO-Al₂O₃ as hydroxide-ions (diffuse IR-emission-spectrum of ^?O-H^?…O^2?-molecule units).     

Thermodynamic properties of alumina-saturated iron-carbon-bismuth alloys

Using direct and indirect equilibration methods, the solubilities of iron in molten bismuth and those of bismuth in molten iron-carbon alloys have been measured over the temperature range 1473-1873 K. The Henrian behaviour of bismuth in molten ferrous alloys allows the calculation of its activity coefficient, which in turn facilitates modelling as a function of temperature and carbon content, using the unified interaction parameter formalism developed by Pelton and Bale. The modelling results generate the expression: . A model has also been developed expressing bismuth content in molten iron-carbon alloys as a function of temperature and composition: .     

Solubility of nitrogen in austenitic FeCrMn alloys

The equilibrium solubility of nitrogen in austenitic iron-chromium, iron-manganese, and iron-chromium-manganese alloys with mass up to 20 % Cr and 18 % Mn was measured in the temperature range 1273 to 1473 K. The following interaction parameters were obtained: (1) Describing the effect of chromium and/or manganese on the nitrogen solubility by the excess term , the present measurements correspond satisfactorily to those of Hertzmann and Jarl and of Zheng in the system Fe-Cr-N, but they differ somewhat from values calculated by means of parameters published by Frisk. For the system Fe-Mn-N the present measurements correspond to measurements by Grabke et al. and to values calculated with parameters published by Qiu. Using parameters deduced from the present measurements in the austenitic Fe-Cr-Mn-N system similar nitrogen solubilities were calculated as Zheng had measured, but small deviations were found between the analysis by Qiu and this investigation.     

Reduction of Fe1-xO in liquid state by H2+Ar mixtures

The investigations of reducing Fe_1-xO in liquid state with H₂+Ar mixtures, in top blowing stream of gas reactor, by using thermobalance method have been carried out. To make the system more homogeneous pure iron crucibles were used in the experiment. The experiments were carried out in the range of gas flow rate V = (5+80) · 10^?6 m³/s and in 1723 K. Reduction rate depends on hydrogen partial pressure and flow rate of gas mixture. The logarithm of apparent reduction rate constant is a linear function of logarithm of gas flow rate. In experimental conditions of this work, the initial rate of reduction satisfies the relation . Thus it has been shown that the reduction process is controlled by the mass transfer in the gaseous phase. Sherwood numbers obtained from observed values of reduction rates and empirical equation of the gas-phase mass transfer rate are correlated by equation . The values of mass transfer coefficient in gas phase calculated from Sherwood numbers are consistent with the values of apparent reduction rate constant and with estimated rate constant of chemical reaction of liquid F_e1-xO reduction.     

Solubilities of carbon in CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 slags saturated with liquid iron

By equilibrating the CaO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ slags with Fe - 0.0003～0.07% Al - 0.002～3.5% Si - 0.9～2.0% C alloys (mass contents in %) at 1873 K, the solubilities of carbon were measured as a function of Si contents in metal, using an alumina or lime crucible. The distribution ratios of carbon as a C^2- -ion were found to be linearly related to Si contents with a slope of 1/2 at a given slag composition. The carbide capacity, , defined by (% C) , increased with increasing SiO₂ contents at a given CaO/AlO_1.5 molar ratio in the CaO-AlO_1.5SiO₂ system.     

Thermodynamic behaviour of zinc in Fe‐C and CaO‐FeO‐CaF2 slag at high temperatures

The distribution ratio of zinc between Ag‐Zn and Fe‐Zn alloys was measured to clarify the thermodynamic behaviour of zinc in Fe‐C melt at high temperatures. Also, the distribution ratio between Ag‐Zn alloy and CaO‐FeO‐CaF₂ slag was measured to understand the dissolution mechanism of zinc in molten slags. The activity coefficient of zinc in Ag‐Zn alloy was preliminarily measured as a fundamental thermodynamic data for the activity of zinc in Fe‐C melt. From the dependence of the activity coefficient of zinc in Fe‐C melts on temperature and carbon content, the following equation could be obtained at 1473 ‐ 1623 K: The distribution ratio of zinc between Ag‐Zn alloy and CaO‐FeO‐CaF₂ slag increased by increasing both the oxygen potential and slag basicity. The stoichiometric coefficients of the dissolution reaction were obtained by considering the relationship between zinc distribution ratio and slag basicity or oxygen partial pressure, when one of these two independent variables was fixed. The dissolution reaction of zinc into the slags could be described as follows:      

Control of the chromium-oxygen reaction in pure iron melts

Oxygen activities in Fe-O-Cr melts, equilibrated with chromium oxide, were determined as a function of chromium content by EMF measurements using ZrO₂(CaO) plug-type sensors with a Cr-Cr₂O₃ reference. Plug-type sensors with or without Cr₂O₃ saturator were used in the experiments. From the experimental results values for the activity coefficient f_O and the interaction parameters and were evaluated. Raoultian chromium activity features a slight positive deviation from ideal solution behaviour in the temperature range from 1550 to 1650°C. Taking into account the calculated interaction parameters, the equilibrium constant K_Cr-O was redetermined at 1550 to 1650°C. In comparison with previous studies a better agreement was obtained with existing thermochemical data.