Viscosity and Structure Studies of Iron-Based Quaternary Melts: The Effect of Silicon

This paper investigates the influence mechanism of temperature and Si content on the full viscosity range of Fe-4.5wt pct C-0.1wt pct Ti-xSi melt. In the solid-liquid phase region, the increase in Si content promotes the rise in the liquid phase temperature of the melt and the precipitation of solid-phase particles. The decrease in temperature also enhances the precipitation of solid-phase particles. In the pure liquid phase, the introduction of Si occupies vacancies in the melt and combines with Fe to form more B-Fe clusters. This process results in an increase in the average cluster size in the melt, a decrease in temperature, a reduction in the proportion of free volume, and ultimately, an increase in system viscosity. The viscosity of the system increases with higher Si content and lower temperatures.