Dissolution behaviour of MgO based refractories in CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 slag

Abstract

Magnesium oxide (MgO) based refractories are widely used in secondary refining processes, and their dissolution into refining slag is the primary cause of their shortened lifespan. The dissolution rate was investigated for sintered MgO and commercial MgO–C and MgO–Cr2O3 refractories in a synthesised 50CaO–45Al2O3–5SiO2 liquid (mass-%) slag. The change in slag composition was measured after a refractory sample was placed into the molten slag that was stirred by flowing argon gas at 1773 K. The dissolution rate of the sintered MgO was above those of the MgO–C and MgO–Cr2O3 refractories under the same gas flowrate, although the dissolution rate of all samples increased as the gas flowrate was increased from 25 to 75 mL·min− 1. The slag containing 5 mass-% FeO considerably promoted the dissolution of the MgO–C refractory because of the oxidation of carbon by FeO. The dissolution of all the refractories was greatly affected by penetration of the liquid slag, with the mass transfer of MgO in the penetrating slag at lower gas flowrates likely being the rate controlling step. At high gas flowrates, Ar bubbles covered the surface and blocked the contact between the liquid slag and the solid phase, reducing the dissolution rate.