Steel Reoxidation by Gunning Mass and Tundish Slag

Steel reoxidation in the tundish has a significant influence on the steel cleanliness and therefore on the mechanical properties of the final product. In the present work, the steel reoxidation by two types of gunning mass (GM), viz. magnesia- and alumina-based GM, and two types of tundish slag, viz. lime-alumina-silica and lime-alumina slags, has been investigated. The evolution of the steel composition during the test was analyzed and predicted based on thermodynamic and kinetic considerations. The calculated steel composition agrees well with measured values, when assuming the mass transfer in slag phase limits the reoxidation reactions. The oxidation capacity of the gunning mass and tundish slag is quantified by calculating the oxygen amount supplied from the GM and the slag to the steel phase. It was found that compared to alumina GM, magnesia GM exhibits a stronger oxidation capacity due to its higher content of reducible oxides (10 wt pct SiO2 + 6 wt pct FeO). Compared to lime-alumina-silica tundish slag, lime-alumina slag (with more FeO + MnO contents) provides more oxygen to the molten steel in the present experimental conditions and consequently shows a stronger oxidation capacity.