Abstract
Fe-Si droplets on the surface of blast furnace (BF) coke from 25 to 50 cm at the tuyere level are mostly composed of Fe3Si, which has various shapes (round, elongated, and irregular) and penetration degrees into the BF coke matrix. The shapes and penetration degrees may depend on the saturation of molten iron by silicon during interaction with the coke matrix. The droplets are covered by a tiny shell of carbon. Graphite observed inside the droplets can be divided into two categories: well-formed tabular crystals with relatively large size and flakes with structures similar as those in cast iron. The textures of the droplets reflect composition, interaction with the coke matrix, and cooling conditions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
W. Wang, K.M. Thomas, R.M. Poultney, and R.R. Willmers, Iron catalysed graphitisation in the blast furnace, Carbon, 33(1995), No.11, p.1525.
W.M. Husslage, M.A. Reuter, R.H. Heerema, T. Bakker, and A.G.S. Steeghs, Flow of molten slag and iron at 1500°C to 1600°C through packed coke beds, Metall. Mater. Trans. B, 36(2005), No.6, p.765.
F. McCarthy, R. Khanna, V. Sahajwalla, and N. Simento, Interfacial phenomena occurring during iron/char interactions in a blast furnace, ISIJ Int., 45(2005), No.9, p.1261.
M.W. Chapman, B.J. Monaghan, S.A. Nightingale, J.G. Mathieson, and R.J. Nightingale, Observations of the mineral matter material present at the coke/iron interface during coke dissolution into iron, ISIJ Int., 47(2007), No.7, p.973.
M.W. Chapman, B.J. Monaghan, S.A. Nightingale, J.G. Mathieson, and R.J. Nightingale, Formation of a mineral layer during coke dissolution into liquid iron and its influence on the kinetics of coke dissolution rate, Metall. Mater. Trans. B, 39(2008), No.3, p.418.
S.T. Cham, R. Khanna, V. Sahajwalla, R. Sakurovs, and D. French, Influence of mineral matter on carbon dissolution from metallurgical coke into molten iron: interfacial phenomena, ISIJ Int., 49(2009), No.12, p.1860.
P.J. Yunes Rubio, N. Saha-Chaudhury, and V. Sahajwalla, Carbon dissolution occurring during graphite-ferrosilicon interactions at 1550°C, ISIJ Int., 49(2009), No.12, p.1868.
J.E. Gruzleski, On the growth of spherulitic graphite in nodular cast iron, Carbon, 13(1975), No.3, p.167.
P.C. Liu, C.R. Loper Jr., T. Kimura, and H. K. Park, Observations on the graphite morphology in cast iron, Trans Am Foundrymen’s Soc, 8(1980), p.97.
J.M. Makar and B. Rajani, Gray cast-iron water pipe metallurgy, J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 12(2000), No.3, p.245.
T. Alp, A.A. Wazzan, and F. Yilmaz, Microstructure-property relationships in cast irons, Arabian J. Sci. Eng., 30(2005), No.2B, p.163.
J. Campbell, A hypothesis for cast iron microstructures, Metall. Mater. Trans. B, 40(2009), No.6, p.786.
S.S. Gornostayev and J.J. Härkki, Graphite crystals in blast furnace coke, Carbon, 45(2007), No.6, p.1145.
J. Lacaze and B. Sundman, An assessment of the Fe-C-Si system, Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 22(1991), No.10, p.2211.
J.M. Radzikowska, Metallography and Microstructures of Cast Iron, [in] G.V. Voort, ASM Handbook Volume 09: Metallography and Microstructures, ASM International, Materials Park, Ohio, 2004, p.565.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gornostayev, S.S., Fabritius, T.M.J., Kerkkonen, O. et al. Fe-Si droplets associated with graphite on blast furnace coke. Int J Miner Metall Mater 19, 478–482 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-012-0583-5
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-012-0583-5