Motion of Solid Particles at Molten Metal–Liquid Slag Interface

Abstract

The transferring motion of the particle inclusions at the molten metal–liquid slag interface is very important for the optimization of metal refining processes. A mathematical dynamic model based on force analysis was built to simulate the motion of particles close to and at a metal–slag interface. A wide particle Reynolds number range was used. The model was validated using a water model and was used to study the influence of interfacial characteristics on particle motion. A small metal–slag interfacial tension or large particle wettability promote particle motion through the interface and their entering the slag phase. Particle motion changes from being bounced by the interface to oscillating around the interface to entering the slag phase when the metal–slag interfacial tension decreases or the particle wettability increases. Another phenomenon is that the final particle position is only related to the particle wettability and the end displacement is described as (1 + cosθ _IMS)R.