Mechanism of Phosphorus Enrichment in Dephosphorization Slag Produced Using the Technology of Integrating Dephosphorization and Decarburization

Abstract

In order to better understand and develop the technology of integrating dephosphorization and decarburization in a single converter (abbreviated as IDDSC), the relevant thermodynamic issues were discussed by calculation. Based on the thermodynamic calculation, the bridges between the phosphorus distribution ratio, temperature, and slag composition were constructed. Besides, the connections between the dephosphorization behavior and the microstructure of slag were also established by investigating four heats of hot metal smelt using IDDSC technology. As a result, the mechanism of phosphorus enrichment in the dephosphorization slag was revealed. Also, the results show that the dephosphorization efficiency increases gradually with increasing slag basicity. While the dephosphorization efficiency increases first and then decreases with the increase of FeO content in slag. There is a competition relationship between P2O5 and FeO in reacting with CaO and SiO2. When CaO/FeO is relatively high, not enough FeO is provided. Thus P2O5 is in priority to react with CaO and SiO2 through [3n + 2](CaO) + 2SiO2 + n(P2O5) = n(3CaO·P2O5)-2CaO·SiO2(s), generating P2O5-rich nC2S-C3P solid solution which promotes the removal of [P] from the hot metal. When CaO/FeO is relatively low, FeO competes over P2O5 in reacting with CaO and SiO2 through a(CaO) + b(SiO2) + c(FeO) = aCaO·bSiO2·cFeO(s), generating CaFeSiO4 instead of P2O5-rich solid solution. As a consequence, the slag with low CaO/FeO shows a poor dephosphorization ability.