Activities of carbon and nitrogen in Fe-Cr and Fe-Cr-Ni melts

Carbon and nitrogen in steel are the original sources of carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides which exert a strong effect on the production process an d the service properties of steel. The knowledge of the activities and cont ents of carbon and nitrogen in Fe-Cr and Fe-Cr-Ni melts: under atmospheric and vacuum conditions is indispensable to optimize existing processes and t o create new ones. With the help of computer based modelling and simulation programs, the thermodynamic behaviour of carbon and nitrogen was analyzed. The calculated results are supported by the available experimental ones. T hey provide a basis to better understand metallurgical reactions occurring in steelmaking and enable an improved control of the steelmaking process.