REDUCTION OF ELECTRIC ARE FURNACE SLAGS IN STAINLESS STEELMAKING - PART 1 - OBSERVATIONS

Simultaneous reduction of iron and chromium oxides from synthetic elec tric are furnace stainless steelmaking slag in a graphite crucible has been studied. Above the melting point of iron the reduction of iron o xide leads to a carbon saturated Fe-C melt, but below the melting poin t of iron initially solid iron or iron carbide forms on the crucible s urface. Only when a certain number of Fe-C droplets are formed does th e reduction of chromium oxide start to form an Fe-Cr-C alloy. The reac tion proceeds with pronounced foaming which depends on the basicity, t emperature, and iron oxide content of the slag. IS/1352a (C) 1998 The Institute of Materials.