Falling Angle of Fe-C-Based Alloy Droplet on Coke and Graphite

The hold-up of molten pig iron and slag melt in the coke packed bed of blast furnace (BF) causes a decrease of void between coke lumps and inhibits gas permeability. Smooth dripping of those liquids in the coke bed is desirable to keep the productivity of BF. Herein, the conditions for smooth flowing of molten iron on coke surface are calrified, and the falling angles of Fe-C and actual pig iron droplets on coke and graphite are measured at high temperature. It is found that Fe-C droplet easily slids down on coke because of small falling angle, and the falling angle of actual pig iron is even smaller, while those droplets adhere to a graphite substrate. The carbon in iron has only a small effect on the static contact angle with coke, but has a great influence on the falling angle. From the viewpoint of the roughness of coke surface, the variation of static contact angle and falling angle is discussed.