Reoxidation of Al-Killed Steel by Cr2O3 from Tundish Cover Flux

Abstract

Reoxidation has long been a problem when casting ultra-low oxygen liquid steel. An experimental study of the reoxidation phenomenon caused by Cr2O3-bearing cover flux of Al-killed steel is presented here. MgO-CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-Cr2O3 tundish cover flux with various Cr2O3 contents were used to study the effects of Cr2O3 on total oxygen content (T[O]) and alumina and silicone loss of Al-killed steel at 1923 K (1650 °C). It was found that Cr2O3 can be reduced by Al to cause reoxidation, and the reaction occurs mainly within 2 to 3 min after the addition of the tundish cover flux with 5% and 10% Cr2O3 concentration. T[O] and Al loss increase with higher Cr2O3 concentration flux. Two controlled experiments were also made to investigate the oxygen transported to the steel by the decomposition of Cr2O3. It was calculated that when Al is present in steel, more than 90% of the reoxidation of Cr2O3 is caused by Al, and the rest is caused by decomposition.