Characterization of Slag‐Metal Emulsion and Its Impact on Foaming Behavior and Slopping in the LD Process

Abstract

In the Basic Oxygen Steelmaking (BOS) process, a heterogeneous emulsion‐solid mix will form, consisting of an emulsion of liquid slag and metal droplets, in which 2nd phase particles of undissolved fluxes and solid in‐blow precipitates are suspended. When the carbon in the metal droplets reacts with iron oxide, small bubbles of CO gas are formed. If the upward movement of these bubbles is obstructed by the physical properties of the emulsion‐solid mix, foaming will occur. Certain process conditions may lead to an excessive foam growth, in the worst case forcing foam out of the vessel. This undesired process event is known as “slopping”. Extensive studies during recent decades have shown that emulsion characteristics strongly connected to foaming are: viscosity, surface tension, and density. The extent of foaming is also dependent on bubble size; foaming increasing with smaller bubble size. However, investigations into the influence of the mineralogy and morphology of the emulsion‐solid mix on foaming in basic oxygen steelmaking are scarce. In this work, samples from trials in a 6‐tonne pilot plant BOS vessel are examined by XRD and with SEM for the determination of emulsion‐solid mix mineralogy and morphology at different stages of the oxygen blow. The study confirms the importance of tight process control in order to minimize the emulsion‐solid mix apparent viscosity and, hence, the foam height, but this without over‐oxidizing the liquid slag phase, which would result in increased gas generation within the slag‐metal emulsion.