Mechanism for Carbon Transfer from Magnesia-Graphite Ladle Refractories to Ultralow-Carbon Steel

Abstract

Mechanisms of carbon transport between magnesia-graphite ladle refractories and ultra-low carbon (ULC) steel were investigated using laboratory dip tests with commercial ladle refractories in a vacuum induction furnace. Refractories with carbon contents between 4-12 wt% were evaluated to observe the effect of carbon content on the rate of carbon transfer to the steel. The influence of slag was also examined by comparing slag free experiments with experiments performed with industrial slag compositions of varying MgO content. The reacted refractories were examined by SEM-EDX analysis to observe changes in the refractory that influenced the rate of carbon pickup to the steel. The mechanism for carbon transfer when refractories of 10 wt%C and 12 wt%C were in contact with ULC steel without slag was dissolution of carbon by steel penetrating into the refractory. There was no penetration and no carbon pickup when 4 wt%C and 6 wt%C refractories were in contact with ULC steel without slag. The presence of slag changed the pickup mechanism to corrosion of the refractory at the slag line. A slag closer to MgO saturation lessened the extent of that corrosion.

Meeting Name

Iron and Steel Technology Conference (2016: May 16-19, Pittsburgh, PA)

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Research Center/Lab(s)

Peaslee Steel Manufacturing Research Center

Keywords and Phrases

Carbon; Graphite; Magnesia; Pickup; Refractories; Steel; ULC; Carbon steel; Corrosion; Ladle metallurgy; Magnesia refractories; Refractory materials; Slags; Vacuum furnaces

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

978-1935117551

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1551-6997

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2016 Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 May 2016

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