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Vacuum treatment:
• Vacuum treatment of molten steel decreases the partial pressure of
CO, which results in shifting equilibrium of the reaction of carbon
oxidation.
• Bubbles of carbon monoxide form in the liquid steel float up and
then they are removed by the vacuum system.
• In addition to deoxidation vacuum treatment helps to remove
Hydrogen dissolved in liquid steel. Hydrogen diffuses into the CO
bubbles and the gas is then evacuated by the vacuum pump.
• Movement of the molten steel caused by CO bubbles also results in
refining the steel from non-metallic inclusions, which agglomerate,
float up and are absorbed by the slag.
• CO bubbles also favor the process of floating and removal of nitride
inclusions and gaseous Nitrogen.
• Steels refined in vacuum are characterized by homogeneous
structure, low content of non-metallic inclusions and low gas
porosity.
• Vacuum degassing methods are used for manufacturing large steel
ingots, rails, ball bearings and other high quality steels.
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MY: 301 Steel Making Processes
Lecture No: 20 21, 14 Feb 2011
• The ladle has a free board of about 1 to 1.5 meter to contain violent
(vigorous) agitation of the bath during lancing.
• The charge ingredients are similar to the AOD process. The charge
is melted in EAF and transferred to the VOD system.
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MY: 301 Steel Making Processes
Lecture No: 20 21, 14 Feb 2011
• Oxygen blowing from lid of the vacuum tank and argon bubbling
from the ladle bottom are started when required vacuum is
established.
• Argon stirring is essential otherwise decarburization is delayed due
to lack of mass transport of carbon from bottom portion to the
surface where carbon oxygen reaction is greatly achievable.
• The carbon can be lowered to around 0.02% at around 16-18%Cr.
• At the end of the refining the vacuum is broken and the heat/bath
is deoxidized with Al/Fe-Si – or Fe-Si/Cr-Si(for chromium recovery)
• Then de-sulphurisation is carried out by putting synthetic slag
(Cao,SiO2,Al2O3 or CaF2 = e.g. 40: 40: 20) to the molten steel surface
of about 2-3% by weight of the molten steel and argon Stirring of
the melt through the porous bottom plug results in deep
desulfurization of the steel.
• The total VOD cycle is around 2-2.5Hours.
Benefits of Vacuum Oxygen Decarburization (VOD):
• -Deep carbon removal (ultra low carbon steel can produced
• -Low losses of chromium in treatment of stainless steels;
• -Hydrogen removal (degassing);
• -Sulfur removal (desulfurization);
• -Precise alloying;
• -Reheating; -Non-metallic inclusions (oxides and nitrides) removal;
• -Temperature and chemical homogenizing.
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MY: 301 Steel Making Processes
Lecture No: 20 21, 14 Feb 2011
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MY: 301 Steel Making Processes
Lecture No: 20 21, 14 Feb 2011
cover.
• Injection of desulfurizing agents allows achieving ultra-low
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MY: 301 Steel Making Processes
Lecture No: 20 21, 14 Feb 2011
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MY: 301 Steel Making Processes
Lecture No: 20 21, 14 Feb 2011
Electroslag Remelting
• Electroslag Remelting (ESR) is a process of remelting a consumable
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MY: 301 Steel Making Processes
Lecture No: 20 21, 14 Feb 2011
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MY: 301 Steel Making Processes
Lecture No: 20 21, 14 Feb 2011
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MY: 301 Steel Making Processes
Lecture No: 20 21, 14 Feb 2011
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