Distribution behavior of vanadium and phosphorus between slag and molten steel

Abstract

The correlation of the equilibrium behaviors of phosphorus and vanadium between slag and low carbon molten steel in inert atmosphere was investigated with respect to the experimental variables of slag basicity, the (P₂O₅) and (V₂O₅) content, and the reaction temperature. The distribution ratios of phosphorus and vanadium increased with an increase in the slag basicity. The logarithms of the vanadium distribution ratio were greater by a factor of about two than those of phosphorus in the range of low slag basicity, but the difference diminished with an increase in the slag basicity. The logarithms of the vanadium distribution ratio increased linearly with an increase in the (P₂O₅) and (V₂O₅) content in the slag, while those of phosphorus remained nearly constant. The logarithms of the phosphorus and vanadium distribution ratio decreased with an increase in temperature, and the dependence on temperature was greater for the phosphorus than for the vanadium. For both the maximization of the vanadium yield and the minimization of the rephosphorization of molten steel in the steelmaking process, the ratio of N_(V2O5)/N_(P2O5), the slag basicity, the ratio of f_[P]/f_[V], and the temperature should be maximized, and the (FeO) content in the slag should be minimized.