Kinetics of Silicon Carbide Dissolution in Molten Fe–C Alloys

The dissolution rate of SiC in molten Fe–C alloys was investigated at 1673 ~ 1773 K, while the initial carbon concentration varied from approximately 2–3 wt%. The dissolution of SiC in molten Fe–C alloys occurred to reach the carbon-saturation composition. By assuming a first-order reaction, the dissolution rate constant was estimated to decrease from 8.17 × 10⁻³ to 2.90 × 10⁻³ cm/s, as the initial carbon content increased from 2 to 3 wt% at 1673 K. When the temperature increased from 1673 to 1773 K with the sample of the initial carbon content of about 2 wt%, the rate constant increased from 8.17 × 10⁻³ to 18.41 × 10⁻³ cm/s. The apparent activation energy was estimated at 199.5 kJ/mol. Based on the experimental results, an empirical equation was suggested for the estimation of the SiC dissolution rate constant: \(\ln k\left( {cm/s} \right) = 12.74 - 1.37 \times \left[ {wt\% C} \right]_{t = 0} - 2.40 \times 10^{4} /T\left( K \right)\), which can be applied to the numerical simulation of the Si-pickup in the FINEX and the Hydrogen-enriched Blast Furnace operations.

Graphical Abstract