Determining the flow characteristics of synthetic
slag and optimizing the slag characteristics

Abstract

In the dynamics of blast furnace slag plays an important role in the quality of the hot metal produces and also the efficiency of the blast furnace. The quality of the hot metal depends on the formation and other mineralogical transformation that the slag undergoes during the passage of the burden. The minerals such as SiO2 and Al2O3 increases the viscosity of the slag whereas, CaO decreases the viscosity of the slag.The cohesive zone determines gas flow pattern. The cohesive zone's thickness is determined by the melting zone of the slag. The ore is compacted due to softening and melting in the cohesive zone. Minimizing the size, lowering the level of the cohesive zone, increases the efficiency of the blast furnace, improves productivity and decreases coke rate. The work is designed at arriving at a slag composition through actual experiments which will ensure the lowering of the cohesive zone of the blast furnace with simultaneous decrease in the difference between the softening temperature (ST) and flow temperature (FT) of the slag.Synthetic slags were formed by imitation of blast furnace slag using the major oxides (CaO, MgO, SiO2 and Al2O3) and disregarding the minor oxides. The mineralogical compositions of the slag can be varied to obtain different synthetic slag and thus the flow characteristics of the slag can be experimented for different synthetic Slags.