| Abstract: | The kinetics of nitrogen removal from molten steel under vacuum and gas-blowing conditions has beenstudied during the VIM process. The experimental results indicated that vacuum affected the kinetics of nitrogenremoval in the range of 67-5 360 Pa. At 67 Pa, the rate of nitrogen removal is controlled by the liquid phase masstransfer of nitrogen in molten steel. At 2 680Pa, the limited step for nitrogen removal from molten steel is the chemical reaction at the metal/gas interface. Under the present experimental conditions, the type (Ar, CO, CO2) and quantity of gas flowed have no evident influences on the rate of nitrogen removal. The ratio of nitrogen removal of gasbubbles is less than 3 %. Based on the experimental results, the mechanism of nitrogen removal during the VDprocess with argon blowing and the other melting or secondary refining processes with carbon-oxygen reaction havebeen discussed. Some new viewpoints are proposed. |
