What are the oxidation reactions?
The principle reactions in steelmaking comprise of oxidation of impurity elements by oxygen dissolved in hot metal or FeO content of slag.
- All reactions are exothermic.
- C is removed as gas.
- Except C, all other impurities are removed as oxides and all these oxides float on the surface of the molten metal during refining of hot metal to steel.
- Iron oxidation is unavoidable. Oxidation of Fe is loss in productivity; hence its oxidation must be controlled.
- Oxygen must be dissolved to remove an impurity from the hot metal.
We begin with considering oxidation of an individual element and evolve the optimum conditions using thermodynamic principles.
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