Kinetics of Silicon Carbide Dissolution in Molten Fe-C Alloys

The dissolution rate of SiC in molten Fe-C alloys was investigated at 1673 similar to 1773 K, while the initial carbon concentration varied from approximately 2-3 wt%. The dissolution of SiC in molten Fe-C alloys occurred to reach the carbon-saturation composition. By assuming a first-order reaction, the dissolution rate constant was estimated to decrease from 8.17 x 10(-3) to 2.90 x 10(-3) cm/s, as the initial carbon content increased from 2 to 3 wt% at 1673 K. When the temperature increased from 1673 to 1773 K with the sample of the initial carbon content of about 2 wt%, the rate constant increased from 8.17 x 10(-3) to 18.41 x 10(-3) cm/s. The apparent activation energy was estimated at 199.5 kJ/mol. Based on the experimental results, an empirical equation was suggested for the estimation of the SiC dissolution rate constant: ln k(cm/s) = 12.74-1.37x[wt%C](t=0)-2.40x10(4)/T(K), which can be applied to the numerical simulation of the Si-pickup in the FINEX and the Hydrogen-enriched Blast Furnace operations.