Iron and Steel Division - Distribution of Sulphur Between Liquid Iron and Slags of Low Iron-Oxide Concentrations

Desulphurization of liquid iron by reducing slags of the electric-furnace type was studied from 65 heats. Variations were made in basicity over a wide range and in FeO up to about 5 pct for their effects on desulphurization. The role of FeO in desulphurization from the blast furnace, to the electric furnace, to the oxidizing conditions of the open hearth is shown to fit a relatively simple pattern of behavior. THE mechanism which controls the desulphurization of molten iron by basic slags has been the object of several investigations. In particular, equilibrium determinations have been made both in the field of basic open-hearth slags, which have a high iron-oxide concentration, and in the field of blast-furnace slags which have a very low iron-oxide concentration. In both cases the desulphurization ratio has been found to increase with increasing basicity of the slags; however, the mechanism of desulphurization differs in the two cases. In basic open-hearth slags desulphurization occurs mainly as a partition of iron sulphide:&apos; FeS * (FeS) and the desulphurization ratio is approximately independent of iron-oxide concentration in the slag. In blast-furnace slags the concentration of iron oxide is very low as a result of the highly reducing conditions in which they are formed. The controlling reaction for desulphurization is then:2,3 FeS + (CaO) <=* (CaS) + (FeO) The slags of the reducing stage in the electric furnace have an iron-oxide concentration which is intermediate between blast-furnace and open-hearth slags. The study of the mechanism of desulphurization for these slags has been the object of this investigation. The importance of low (FeO) in the slag for desulphurization was first verified by Bardenheuer and Geller,& who found that high desulphurization ratios were obtained in highly reduced slags. It was recognized" hat iron oxide in the slag becomes a controlling factor in desulphurization only at FeO concentrations approximately under 5 pct. A recent investigation conducted by Buehl,7 upon the suggestion of one of the authors, confirmed this opinion from the results obtained from a heat conducted in a small arc furnace. In the present investigation, slags of very high basicity, such as often are encountered in the basic electric furnace, could not be studied, but equilibrium data have been obtained for slags in a wide basicity range. The iron-oxide concentration in these slags ranged from 0.08 to 15 pct and was controlled by the addition of silicon to the metal. Other constituents of the slags were mainly CaO, MgO, SiO2, A120,, and CaF,. The experimental technique was essentially the same as that of previous investigations.1 8-lo In an open magnesia-lined induction furnace, 65 lb of Armco ingot iron was melted. An atmosphere of hydrogen was maintained over the melt for 1 hr to bring the carbon content down to approximately 0.010 pct maximum. The bath then was exposed to air for 25 min to remove hydrogen. The electrodes were put in place, and the furnace was operated from this point on in an atmosphere of nitrogen. A synthetic slag was added to which additions of silicon and iron sulphide were made. A rate study conducted at the beginning of this investigation had