Tecnologia em Metalurgia, Materiais e Mineração (Mar 2013)

CALCIUM CARBIDE: AN EFFICIENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE OF ALUMINUM

  • Amilton Carlos Pinheiro Cardoso Filho,
  • Carlos Alberto de Souza,
  • João Domingos Guimarães de Athayde Júnior,
  • Prudêncio Aparecido de Freitas,
  • Sergio Henrique Rocha,
  • Gilson Alves Menezes,
  • Helio Gabriel de Souza

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4322/tmm.2013.004
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 28 – 34

Abstract

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The steel demand for fine applications have increased considerably in the last years, and the criteria for its production are even stricter, mainly in relation to the residual elements content and cleanness required. In relation to the steel cleanness, the main problem faced is the control of the amount and morphology of alumina inclusions, generated in the steel deoxidation with aluminum. Besides harming the products quality, the presence of non metallic inclusions can originate nozzle clogging, and consequently interruptions in the process flux. Aiming to improve the steel cleanness and to minimize nozzle clogging, this study is developed to evaluate the partial substitution of aluminum by calcium carbide in the steel deoxidation. Along the operational procedures, the calcium carbide was applied to 397 heats, through what the improvement in steel cleanness is confirmed, with consequent reduction in the nozzle clogging occurrence.

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