Effect of FeO Content on the Fluidity of High-TiO2 Slag and Vanadium Distribution Behavior During Electric Furnace Smelting Process
摘要
This study investigated the effect of FeO content (0 to 6 wt pct) on the fluidity and structure of a CaO–SiO2–10 wt pct MgO–13 wt pct Al2O3–FeO–40 wt pct TiO2 slag system, as well as the distribution behavior of vanadium between molten iron and slag. The results showed that increasing FeO content significantly reduced the slag’s viscosity with a maximum reduction of up to 32 pct observed within the experimental temperature range, while lowering its free running temperature from 1700 K to 1686 K. Notably, the high-TiO2 slag exhibited a pronounced “short slag” characteristic during the tests. Comprehensive characterization using XRD, SEM-EDS, and thermodynamic calculations revealed that the slag precipitated a pseudobrookite phase upon cooling near the free running temperature, leading to a sharp deterioration in slag fluidity. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the addition of FeO introduced free oxygen ions, effectively depolymerizing the [SiO4] and [AlO4] tetrahedral networks in the slag, thereby improving fluidity. The enhanced fluidity significantly accelerated the mass transfer kinetics of vanadium at the slag-metal interface. Meanwhile, as FeO content increased, the oxygen potential of the slag rose, enhancing the thermodynamic driving force for vanadium oxidation. This resulted in a continuous decrease in the vanadium content in molten iron and a reduction in the vanadium distribution ratio. In particular, the distribution ratio dropped sharply within the FeO content range of 2 to 4 wt pct. Therefore, to ensure sufficient retention of vanadium in molten iron, the FeO content in the slag should be controlled at approximately 2 wt pct, at which the slag fluidity also meets the smelting requirements.