A SOLID-STATE SENSOR FOR THE DETERMINATION OF SILICON IN HIGH-CARBON FERROCHROMIUM MELTS

A 3-phase zirconia electrolyte, which consists of cubic ZrO2-MgO solid solution, monoclinic ZrO2 and Mg2SiO4, was used to construct a solid state electrochemical sensor for the rapid determinations of silicon a ctivities in ferrochromium melts. The performance of the cell: Mo+MoO2 /3-phase zirconia electrolyte/ ferrochromium, was tested with ferrochr omium melts at temperatures between 1860 and 1990 K. Upon immersion in the molten alloys, the cell showed stable emf's within 10 to 15 s, an d the silicon levels could be determined within a standard deviation o f +/-0.09% Si. (C) Munksgaard, 1996.