General Introduction to Argon Blowing in Ladle
Argon is an inert gas that is insoluble in steel. After argon is blown into the molten steel through a gas permeable device, it can form countless tiny bubbles. For H, O, and N in the molten steel, it is equivalent to a vacuum chamber, which can take them away and achieve the purpose of degassing. Therefore, the degassing principle of ladle argon blowing refining is the same as vacuum degassing. From the perspective of dynamic conditions, the effect may be more superior. In addition, the floating of argon bubbles causes the agitation of the molten steel, which can cause the dispersed tiny inclusions in the molten steel to collide, gather and adsorb on the surface of the bubbles and discharge, thereby increasing the floating speed of the inclusions and achieving the purpose of purification.
The main role of argon blowing in ladle refining
- Using argon bubbles to wash the molten steel can reduce the hydrogen and nitrogen content in the steel, and can further reduce the oxygen content in the steel.
- Using the stirring effect of argon gas to remove slag and inclusions, make the composition and temperature of the molten steel uniform, reduce segregation, and increase the yield of deoxidizers and alloy materials.
- Use the protective effect of argon gas. It can further avoid or reduce the secondary oxidation of molten steel.
Application of argon blowing
Secondary refining outside the furnace with argon blowing is suitable for many types of steel, such as structural steel, bearing steel, electrical steel, stainless steel, heat-resistant steel, steel pipe steel, valve steel, etc. A large number of production practices have proved that after the deoxidized molten steel is blown by ladle argon, about 15%-40% of hydrogen and about 30%-50% of oxygen in the steel can be removed, and the total amount of electrolytic inclusions can be reduced by 50%, especially the large particle inclusions are significantly reduced, and the nitrogen content in the steel is also reduced, but not particularly stable. Ladle argon blowing can reduce the waste caused by defects such as central looseness and segregation, subcutaneous bubbles, inclusions, etc., while increasing the density of steel and metal recovery rate.
The LOD furnace independently developed by our company Shanghai Metallurgy Equipment Group has the function of bottom argon blowing. When the induction furnace is used in conjunction with our LOD furnace and LRF furnace to form an IF+LOD+LRF process, it can produce steel for wire without being restricted by the quality of scrap steel.
