Effect of MgO content and CaO/Al2O3 ratio on melting temperature and viscosity of CaF2–CaO–Al2O3–MgO slag for electroslag remelting

Abstract

During electroslag remelting (ESR), high MgO contents are typically added to CaF₂–CaO–Al₂O₃ slag to control magnesium content in iron- and nickel-based alloys. The melting temperature and viscosity of ESR slag are pivotal for energy consumption, production efficiency, smooth operation, and ingot quality. However, there is currently a notable scarcity of research on the melting temperature and viscosity of CaF₂–CaO–Al₂O₃–MgO slag with high MgO levels. Thus, the melting temperatures and viscosity of CaF₂–CaO–Al₂O₃–MgO slags with varying MgO contents and CaO/Al₂O₃ (C/A) ratios were investigated. The results show that as the MgO content increases from 7.83 % to 13.18 %, the final precipitation content of the MgO phase significantly increases, resulting in an increase in the melting temperature from 1306 °C to 1319 °C. With the increase in the C/A ratio from 0.86 to 1.16, the precipitation completion temperatures of the Ca₁₂Al₁₄F₂O₃₂ and MgO phases significantly decrease and the MgAl₂O₄ phase transforms into the CaO phase. Hence, the melting temperature decreases from 1329 °C to 1314 °C. Further increasing the C/A ratio to 1.40, the final precipitation content of the CaO phase increases, resulting in a decrease in the melting temperature from 1314 °C to 1282 °C. Moreover, as the MgO content and C/A ratio increase, the slag viscosity exhibits different change trends within various temperature ranges. This depends on which of the depolymerization of the slag structure and the precipitation and clustering of the MgO phase has a greater effect on the slag viscosity.