Xue Rui,Chen Yonghong,Liu Bin,et al.Influence of the Decarburization Mode of the RH Refining Furnace on the Cleanliness of IF Steel[J].Special Steel,2026,47(02):51-56.
Xue Rui,Chen Yonghong,Liu Bin,et al.Influence of the Decarburization Mode of the RH Refining Furnace on the Cleanliness of IF Steel[J].Special Steel,2026,47(02):51-56. DOI: 10.20057/j.1003-8620.2025-00136.
Influence of the Decarburization Mode of the RH Refining Furnace on the Cleanliness of IF Steel
为了提高IF钢的洁净度及可浇性,结合邯钢公司邯宝炼钢厂260 t RH真空炉生产实际,以16炉H-OLTB转炉工艺试验为样本,通过取样、夹杂物扫描电镜和数据分析等手段,对冶炼IF钢时自由脱碳模式和强制脱碳模式的终点碳含量、脱碳时间、顶渣、夹杂物数量和尺寸进行了研究,以RH精炼结束时顶渣T.Fe和T[O]的质量分数以及夹杂物数量和尺寸为依据,统计分析不同脱碳模式对顶渣氧化性和钢水洁净度的影响。研究表明,自由脱碳模式在脱碳时间和终点碳含量方面优于强制脱碳模式,自由脱碳模式平均缩短脱碳时间约3.15 min;强制脱碳模式顶渣T.Fe和FeO质量分数均低于自由脱碳模式,强制脱碳模式
To improve the cleanliness and castability of IF steel, this study was conducted by 260 t RH vacuum furnace facility at Hanbao Steelmaking Plant , HBIS Handan Iron and Steel Group Co. , Ltd. Using 16-heats H-OLTB converter process as a case study, researchers employed sampling techniques, inclusions scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and data analysis to evaluate endpoint carbon content, decarburization duration,top slag, and inclusion quantity/size under both free-decarburization and forced-decarburization modes during IF steelmaking. Statistical analyses were performed based on the mass fractions of top slag TFe and TO at RH refining completion, along with inclusion quantity and size metrics. The findings systematically demonstrate how decarburization modes influence top slag oxidation characteristics and molten steel purity. The results show that the free decarburization mode outperforms the forced decarburization mode in terms of decarburization time and end-point carbon content, with the free decarburization mode reducing decarburization time by an average of approximately 3.15 minutes. The mass fractions of T.Fe and FeO in the top slag under the forced decarburization mode are lower than those under the free mode, with values of 5.68% and 5.45% respectively for the forced mode, compared to average values of 7.26% and 6.84% for the free mode. The number of inclusions in IF molten steel is fewer under the forced decarburization mode, with the number of inclusions ≤15 microns per unit area ranging from 16.2 to 23.4 for the free mode and 10.6 to 14.4 for the forced mode. Overall, In the H-OLTB converter, the initial oxygen content at the inlet of the RH furnace is controlled at (286-408)×10⁻⁶. When refining IF steel in the RH furnace using the forced decarburization mode, the molten steel has higher cleanliness.
Li X , Wang L Z , Yang S F , et al . Effect of slag composition on the cleanliness of drill rod steel [J]. Ironmaking & Steelmaking , 2019 , 46 ( 5 ): 416 - 423 .
Ji Y Q , Liu C Y , Lu Y , et al . Effects of FeO and CaO/Al 2 O 3 ratio in slag on the cleanliness of Al-killed steel [J]. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B , 2018 , 49 ( 6 ): 3127 - 3136 .
Wang R , Bao Y P , Li Y H , et al . Effect of slag composition on steel cleanliness in interstitial-free steel [J]. Journal of Iron and Steel Research , International, 2017 , 24 ( 6 ): 579 - 585 .
Ji Y Q , Liu C Y , Yu H X , et al . Oxygen transfer phenomenon between slag and molten steel for production of IF steel [J]. Journal of Iron and Steel Research International , 2020 , 27 ( 4 ): 402 - 408 .
Wang R , Li Y H , Li D Z , et al . Inclusions absorbed by slags in interstitial-free steel production [J]. Steel Research International , 2020 , 91 ( 2 ): 1900440 .