I.

Introduction :

II. slag
slag is solution of oxides and sulphides , So the oxygen content which we sent through the lance , it
dissolves in the metal, it reacts with the different impurities that are present in the hot metal and it
removes the form of oxides. And if there is any sulfur content present in the steel, it will be remove
in the form of sulfur. and these oxides and sulphides has a very less density as compared to the hot
metal. So because of low density these oxides and sulphides. Form a solution and float on the hot
metal. Because it is lighter than the, the solution is lighter than the. Hard metal. So, it floats and
forms a different layer. That layer is known as slag.

Slag is nothing but it is a solution of oxides and sulphides that are formed from the refining of the
hot metal.

III. role of the slag

So we'll see what is the role of the slag. We're talking about good slag makes good steel, so we'll
discuss the different roles. what are the important roles of slag ?

 So the first thing is it as a sink for impurities. All the impurities in the hot metal it will be
converted into oxides or sulphides and goes into this layer. So the slag should be an acceptor
of these impurities in the form of oxides and sulphides. That rate is known as a sink.

 It controls the oxidizing and Reducing potential. the thing this slag will be controlling The
oxidizing order Reduction board should be taking place is decided by the form of the
slag .during this refining This controls the oxidizing and the reduction or reducing potential
with the help of or the content of FeO . If there is high FeO content in the slag then this will
oxidize the hot metal and If the content of FeO is less then it reduces the hot metal.

 It acts as a thermal barrier. It acts as a thermal barrier to prevent heat transfer. if the heat
from the hot metal is moving into the atmosphere easily, then what happens? It will be easily
getting solidified in the converter itself and the refining will not be taking place. And also the
 furnace will be jammed. So without happening that slag will act as a. Thermal barrier so that
the heat is not passing out.Into the atmosphere.

 it also prevents the passage of other unwanted gases. Like passage of nitrogen, hydrogen.
so the slag layer Act as a barrier between the atmosphere and the Hot metal layer not only
as a thermal barrier, but also this layer prevents the passage of these unwanted gases Like
nitrogen and hydrogen from the atmosphere to the molten steel.

 this also protects the steel to be.Our next steel from re-oxidation.As there is oxygen present
in the atmosphere, again if there is any extra oxygen That leads to re-oxidation. This layer
also prevents that to take place.

 also in ex-steelmaking The same thing the thermal barrier point only in EAF steel making , the
slag prevents The radiation of heat. maybe to the walls of the furnace or the roof through the
electrodes and all this stuff .

So these are the different roles of slag and all these are very important for better steel making
purposes.

(Role of Slag in Converter Steelmaking – Satyendra - August 1, 2015,

https://www.ispatguru.com/role-of-slag-in-converter-steelmaking/)

IV. Laitiers sidérurgiques :

in the steel industry , There are three types of slag: ferrous, ferroalloy, non-ferrous slags, which are
produced through different smelting processes. We are interested in Ferrous slag.

The most common modern slags are derived from the manufacture of steel from non-phosphorous
iron ore (blast furnace or converter slags), or from the smelting of scrap metal in an electric arc
furnace. Apart from the production of stainless steels, these steel slags generally have the following
composition:

Tableau 1:Compositions typiques de laitiers sidérurgiques (en % du poids)

Type de laitier / Fe2O3

Haut fourneau 0,1 - 0,5 33 - 9 - 13 39 - 6-9 1,2-1,4

39 42
Four à arc 15 - 35 < 10 10 - < 10 30 - < 10 <2 <2 < 0,25
électrique 20 40
Convertisseur LD 15 - 35 3 - 10 9 - 13 0,5 - 3 42 - 1-8 1,5 - ~2 ~ 0,25
52 4
 V. Elaboration of the slag:
in blast furnace that the Oxides and sulfides are the main constituents of the slag and in these
oxides also there are two type of oxides. The First one is basic oxide and second is acidic oxide.

 For example, of basic oxides: [CaO, MgO, MnO, FeO] these are basic oxides have
octahedral.
 For example, of acidic oxide: [SiO2, P2O5] this is acidic oxides, have tetrahedral structures.

So, in the Very high temperature the molten silica consists of ((SiO 4)-4) and (Si plus ions). That
means at high temperatures the steelmaking temperature. there is the most abundant ion.

the abundant form of (Si) at higher temperatures are in steelmaking, it is ((SiO 4)-4) and the bonding
between the cation and anion is very strong. In these acidic oxides or (SiO 2) or (P2O5), it is very
strong and these simple ions group to form the complex oxides. simple cations like this (SiO2) will be
forming (Si+) and (O-2) But this (O-2) generally it reacts with some other ((SiO 4)-4) and form a
complex ion or a complex oxide. They can show you ((SiO 4)-4) or ((PO 4)-3). All these are the
complex oxides that are formed from the. If sides and these usually tend to form a hexagonal
network and these acidic oxides are known as network formers.

the network formers is SiO2 and P2O5. this acidic oxides will be tend to form complex ions like ((PO
4)-3)and ((SiO 4)-4) and Because this can accept the oxygens that come from Basic oxides and the
reason this oxygen will be reacting with these and forming these complex ions. similarly, the basic
oxides like a CaO and MgO, no fewer these associated to simple ions like Ca+2 or O-2. these are
simple ions are donors of oxygen.

This oxygen will react with this oxide and these are the donors of oxygen, these basic oxides are
called network Breakers Because they destroy the hexagonal network. the basic oxides react with
the structure or let as say the hexagonal network and destroy them By reacting with them.

(https://byjus.com/chemistry/classification-of-oxides/)

VI. characteristics of slag:

A. Viscosity of the slag:
The viscosity controls the fluidity and the Slag must be fluid enough such that It can be removed
easily the slag .we know slag is a layer that is forming above the steel. If this slag it is viscous what
more than what happens, it is not so fluid and it cannot be removed easily and always

the slag is a waste material that is a sink for impurities. So, all these impurities must be removed,
otherwise they get recovered into the steel again, That should be avoided.

The viscosity of the slag should be less so that the fluidity increases and the slag can be removed
easily. That means the viscosity Is inversely proportional to the fluidity.

1
Viscosity =
fluidity
the effect the viscosity decreases with increase in temperature, it follows the viscosity equation:
E
η↓= A e R(T ↑ )

If we increase the temperature, viscosity decreases. Therefore, the network is forming, the bond is
increasing, the bond is getting stronger and If the bond gets stronger, the viscosity increases. Sought
to break that, we add basic oxides. That is why we require basic slag in them steelmaking process. So,
the addition of these basic oxides decreases the viscosity.

Addition of basic oxides decreasing the viscosity, they destroy Hexagonal network that are formed.
so, the decreasing the viscosity is greater with alkaline oxides (Na2O) and (CaF2) to Where you can
form alkaline oxides as compared to normal regular basic oxides like (CaO, MgO) it decreases the
viscosity of the slag it is due to breaking or destroying the hexagonal network.

([1.9.6.2 Viscosity (η)] How Mold Fluxes Work Ken Mills, in Treatise on Process Metallurgy: Industrial
Processes, 2014

B. basicity of the slag

The ratio of the basic oxides and the acidic oxides of the slag is called the basicity of the blast furnace
slag ("B" in short)

Σ[ acidic oxides] Or (CaO %)

B %= B %=
Σ[basic oxides] (Si O 2 % )

According to basicity, the slag can be divided into three types:

 Alkaline slag: B>1.

 Neutral slag: B=1.

 Acidic slag: B<1.

This the basicity ratio intuitively reflects the relationship between the composition of basic oxides
and acidic oxides in slag.

(How to Process Slags : Classifications By the basicity of slag _

https://www.ftmmachinery.com/blog/how-to-process-slags.html)

C. diagrams of slag:
Phase diagrams of slag systems have played an important role in the history of iron and steel making,
Slags most commonly consist of oxides, but can also contain sulfides, fluorides, carbides, or other
metallic or non-metallic components that are also covered by the Oxide database. Non-metallic
inclusions formed in liquid steel or other metals can also be thought of as slag and can be accurately
calculated and the Metal Oxide Solutions .

To determine the properties of the slag (such as melting point and viscosity), it is necessary to make
the calculation taking into account only three components
(SiO2 + AL2O3 + CaO) and then determine the properties using the ternary diagram CaO-SiO2-Al2O3.

Par exemple , nous calcul de pourcentage trois composants (SiO2 + AL2O3 + CaO) dans le laitier

Si O 2l Ca Ol A l 2 O 3l
SiO 2= ⋅ 100 , CaO= ⋅100 , A l 2 O 3 = ⋅ 100
∑3 ∑3 ∑3
apres déterminer en utilisant le diagramme ternaire CaO-SiO2-Al2O3 la phase et la température de
fusion.

Slags - Thermo-Calc Software (thermocalc.com)

https://www.geoforum.fr/sm10.jpg.4e5dd65c5f1ec16e531f191543d4ab90.jpg (1504×1640)
Applications:
The steel industry produces not only metal, but also a by-products like the slag which has been
successfully used in many construction or agriculture applications. Using slag instead of natural
materials is a sustainable alternative with high durability in several applications:

 as building materials or fertilisers. , a portion of the steel slag is reused in the blast furnace as
calcium and iron bearing material.
 for roads. Slag is exceptionally well suited for road construction: as porous asphalt and as
other construction materials with positive characteristics like durability and high skid
resistance.
 for bridges. Slag is used for demanding construction projects such as bridges and skyscrapers.
 for waterways. In hydraulic engineering – such as in building locks, river bottoms and bank
reinforcements – slag is a proven material.
 as fertiliser. Slag products have been successfully used as fertilizers for generations.

The use of slag is ecologically sound and economically smart.

"Asphalte poreux" conçu pour réduire le bruit

https://www.euroslag.com/applications/