Evolution of physicochemical properties of quick lime at converter-smelting temperature

Abstract

Abstract The volume stability caused by the hydration of f-CaO is one of the main obstacles to the comprehensive utilization of steel-making slag. In view of the f-CaO produced by incomplete dissolution of lime, it is necessary to strengthen the dissolution behavior of lime in the converter process. The reactivity of lime determines the dissolution efficiency and is closely related to its microstructure. The experimental results show that the reactivity and porosity of quick lime decrease and the average diameter of pore increases with an increase in temperature. The CaO crystals gradually grow up under the action of grain boundary migration. When the temperature increased from 1,350 to 1,600°C, the lime reactivity decreased from 237.60 to 40.60 mL, the porosity decreased from 30.55 to 15.91%, the average pore diameter increased from 159.10 to 1471.80 nm, and the average CaO particle size increased from 0.33 to 9.61 µm. The results indicate that reactivity is decreased because of the deformation and growth of CaO crystals and the decrease in porosity in reactive lime. This will cause an obstacle to the dissolution of lime and is not conducive to the control of f-CaO in slag.