Although the phosphorus reaction in steelmaking has been extensively studied, it continues to be a relevant topic as low phosphorus iron sources become less available and more expensive, necessitating the need for more accurate predictions of the partitioning of phosphorous as function of slag composition and temperature. The current study revisits some of the relevant literature on the topic and details the methodology and experimental setup used in recent studies on phosphorus equilibrium between liquid iron and slags. New data for BOF-type slags are presented, where equilibrium was approached from both metal and slag sides i.e., phosphorus was transferred from metal to slag and vice versa. It was found that slags with basicities higher than 2.5 and FeO contents around 20 to 25 wt pct can promote extensive dephosphorization, and high L P , ((pct P)/[pct P]), values were observed i.e., greater than 500.

The increased use of electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking using up to 100% direct reduced iron (DRI) has prompted an interest in better control of phosphorus since iron ore and, consequently, DRI have higher phosphorus and silica compared to scrap. There is limited work reported on slag chemistries corresponding to that in the EAF when DRI is used. In the current research, phosphorus equilibria between molten Fe–P alloys and CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-P2O5-FeO-MgOsaturated slags were investigated. The results indicate that there is a significant decrease in the phosphorus partition coefficient (LP) as alumina in the slag increases. The observed effect of alumina on the phosphorus partition is probably caused by the decrease in the activities of iron oxide and calcium oxide. Finally, an equilibrium correlation for phosphorus partition as a function of slag composition and temperature has been developed. It includes the effect of alumina and silica and is suitable for both oxygen and electric steelmaking-type slags.

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