Effect of slag composition on kinetic behavior of deep deoxidation of 5 wt.% Si high-silicon austenitic stainless steel

Based on a thermodynamic study of 5 wt.% Si high-silicon austenitic stainless steel (SS-5Si) smelting using CaF₂–CaO–Al₂O₃–MgO–SiO₂ slag to obtain a low oxygen content of less than 10 × 10⁻⁴ wt.%, a kinetic mass transfer model for deep deoxidation was established through laboratory studies, and the effects of slag components and temperature on deoxidation during the slag–steel reaction process of SS-5Si were systematically studied. The experimental data verified the accuracy of the model predictions. The results showed that the final oxygen content in the steel at 1873 K was mainly controlled by the oxygen content derived from the activity of SiO₂ regulated by the [Si]–[O] equilibrium reaction in the slag system; in particular, when the slag basicity R (R = w(CaO)/w(SiO₂), where w(CaO) and w(SiO₂) are the contents of CaO and SiO₂ in the slag, respectively) is 3, the Al₂O₃ content in the slag needs to be less than 2.7%. The mass transfer rate equation for the kinetics of the deoxidation reaction revealed that the mass transfer of oxygen in the liquid metal is the rate-controlling step under different slag conditions at 1873 K, and the oxygen transfer coefficient k_O,m increases with increasing the slag basicity from 4.0 × 10⁻⁶ m s⁻¹ (R = 1) to 4.3 × 10⁻⁵ m s⁻¹ (R = 3). k_O,m values at R = 2 and R = 3 are almost the same, indicating that high slag basicity has little effect. The integral of the mass transfer rate equation for the deoxidation reaction of SS-5Si under different slag conditions is obtained. The total oxygen content of the molten steel decreases with increasing basicity from an initial content of 22 × 10⁻⁴ to 3.2 × 10⁻⁴ wt.% (R = 3), consistent with the change in k_O,m with slag basicity. At R = 2, the slag–steel reaction takes 15 min to reach equilibrium (w[O] = 5.5 × 10⁻⁴ wt.%), whereas at R = 3, the slag–steel reaction takes 30 min to reach equilibrium (w[O] = 3.2 × 10⁻⁴ wt.%). Considering the depth of deoxidation and reaction time of SS-5Si smelting, it is recommended the slag basicity be controlled at approximately 2. Similarly, the effect of temperature on the deep deoxidation of SS-5Si was studied.