Influence of calcium aluminate cement in magnesia castable on total oxygen content of interstitial free steel

Abstract

Abstract Samples of interstitial free (IF) steel buried in MgO castable bonded by calcium aluminate cement (CA) in graphite crucibles were heated at 1600°C for 90 min. Total oxygen content (TOC) of the steel was examined after heating and the refractory was investigated by SEM and EDS. It was found that TOC was higher in IF steel samples in contact with MgO castables containing 3 or 5 wt-% CA than with castables containing 7 wt-% CA or without CA. A liquid layer formed between refractory oxide and molten steel separates the refractory oxides from molten steel and inhibits direct dissolution of oxides in the molten steel. Transfer of oxygen between the refractory oxide and molten steel occurs by the formation of CaO.Fe2O3 at the boundary between the refractory oxide and the liquid layer, diffusion of CaO.Fe2O3 in the liquid phase layer, decomposition of CaO.Fe2O3 and dissolution of FeO into the molten steel. W ith increasing CA content in MgO based castables the CaO content in molten steel increases, but iron oxide content decreases, leading to the result mentioned above.