Application of boron-containing materials in metallurgy

The main physicochemical characteristics of complex boron-containing ferroalloys are studied. The methods of their production are briefly described, and the advantages of their application to boron microalloying of steel are demonstrated.     

Laser-deposited thin hafnium dioxide condensates: Electron-microscopic study

Thin films of hafnium dioxide (HfO₂) have been obtained by pulsed laser ablation of hafnium targets in oxygen atmosphere and characterized by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Conditions ensuring the formation of an amorphous phase, tetragonal and monoclinic modifications of HfO2 have been determined. It is established that the crystalline phase is formed on orienting substrates at lower temperatures than on neutral ones. The phenomenon of epitaxy has been observed for tetragonal modification of HfO₂. Annealing in air leads to crystallization of an initially amorphous film with the formation of a monoclinic HfO₂ modification.     

Thermodynamic Modeling of Metal Desulfurization with Boron-Containing Slags of the CaO–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–MgO–Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> System

In thermodynamic modeling of the desulfurization of steel by CaO–SiO₂–MgO–Al₂O₃–B₂O₃ slag on the basis of HSC 6.12 Chemistry software (Outokumpu), the influence of the temperature (1500–1700°C), the slag basicity (2–5), and the B₂O₃ content (1–4%)1 on the desulfurization is analyzed. It is found that the sulfur content is reduced with increase in the temperature from 1500 to 1700°C, within the given range of slag basicity. At 1600°C, the sulfur content in the metal is 0.0052% for slag of basicity 2; at 1650°C, by contrast, its content is 0.0048%. Increase in slag basicity from 2 to 5 improves the desulfurization, which increases from 80.7 to 98.7% at 1600°C. If the B₂O₃ content in the slag rises, desulfurization is impaired. At 1600°C, the sulfur content in the metal may be reduced to 0.0052 and 0.0098% when using slag of basicity 2 with 1 and 4% B₂O₃, respectively; in the same conditions but with slag of basicity 5, the corresponding values are 0.00036 and 0.00088%, respectively. Note that desulfurization is better for slag without B₂O₃. According to thermodynamic modeling, metal with 0.0039 and 0.00019% S is obtained at 1600°C when using slag of basicity 2 and 5, respectively, that contains no B₂O₃. The results obtained by thermodynamic modeling for the desulfurization of metal by CaO–SiO₂–MgO–Al₂O₃–B₂O₃ slag of basicity 2–5 in the range 1500–1700°C are consistent with experimental data and may be used in improving the desulfurization of steel by slag that contains boron.     

Physicochemical characteristics,production and application of boron-bearing complex ferroalloys

The expediency of producing and using complex ferroalloys in steelmaking is analyzed in terms the manufacturing technology, the raw materials employed, and the interactions of the ferroalloys with the molten steel. The need to produce complex ferroalloys with boron is established. The fundamental principles for determining the best composition of such alloys are presented. The basic compositions of complex ferroalloys with boron (ferrosilicomanganese with boron, ferrosilicon with boron, ferrosilicomanganese with boron and chromium) are established by studying the physicochemical properties of alloys and their interactions with the steel melt. If the characteristics (melting point, density, melting time of the ferroalloy in liquid steel, etc.) of complex ferroalloys with boron are compared with those of ferroboron, which is widely used, the complex alloys have clear benefits. The composition of the complex ferroalloys with boron includes active elements (Si, Al, Ti) facilitating the binding of oxygen and nitrogen from the steel melt in strong compounds and hence preventing their reaction with boron. The recommended boron content in the ferroalloy is 0.7–2%. That permits increase in the quantity of complex ferroalloys with boron in the steel and hence increase in the reliability and stability of boron assimilation. At elevated temperatures (1430–1570°C), the oxidation of ferrosilicoboron is 4–7 times less than that of ferroboron. Data are presented regarding the industrial production and use of ferrosilicoboron in the steel-smelting shop. The boron assimilation from complex alloys in microalloying of the steel is studied. The use of ferrosilicoboron does not require significant changes in the existing system for reduction by ferrosilicon; the boron assimilation is 77.8–96.3% (mean 86.6%). With a boron concentration of 0.0021–0.0027% in the steel during ladle treatment, its content in the cast metal will be no less than 0.0020%. If boron is introduced in steel by means of ferrosilicomanganese with boron, the boron assimilation is increased by a factor of 1.6 (from 48 to 77%, on average) in comparison with the use of ferroboron.