SURFACE PHENOMENA IN PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF STEELMAKING PROCESSES.

The properties of the metal/gas and metal/slag boundaries considered are surface and interphase tension, adsorption of components and adhesion of the phases. Taking account of adsorption phenomena, the hypothesis regarding the relative rates of oxidation of components is defined and an interpretation is given of the critical concentrations (the transfer of an external diffusion regime of oxygen supply to an internal diffusion regime). The possibilities of completing the processes by changing the interphase tension by polarization (electroslag droplet refining to remove harmful impurities), removal of the system from equilibrium (obtaining slag-metal emulsions), and a change in the adhesion of phases (by means of coating) are indicated.