GRK2802: Effect of microporous Al2O3-MgAl2O4 content on the thermal shock resistance and molten steel purification performance of β-SiC whisker-reinforced Al2O3-MgAl2O4-C ceramic filters

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of microporous Al2O3-MgAl2O4 content on the phase composition, microstructures, mechanical properties, and purification performance for molten steel of Al2O3-MgAl2O4-C filters, conducted through XRD, SEM, EDS, immersion test with molten steel, and so on. The results indicate that the microporous Al2O3-MgAl2O4 raw material significantly promotes the formation of in-situ β-SiC whiskers within the filters, which intertwine among the particles and grow within the microporous structure, working synergistically with the MgAl2O4 phase to improve the strength and thermal shock resistance. Regarding molten steel purification, on the one hand, the microporous structure of Al2O3-MgAl2O4 particles enhances the filter’s contact area with molten steel, imparting a higher physisorption efficiency to the filter. On the other hand, MgAl2O4 has a greater tendency for carbothermal reactions, generating Mg vapor that has a strong chemisorption capability for [Al], [O], and Al2O3 inclusions in the molten steel. The microporous structure and MgAl2O4 facilitate the formation of a MgAl2O4 reaction layer at the interface during immersion test, contributing to the purification of the molten steel. The filter AM60, prepared with 60 wt% microporous Al2O3-MgAl2O4 powder, not only exhibits excellent thermal shock resistance (with a cold compressive strength of 0.54 MPa and a strength of 0.59 MPa after three thermal shock tests), but also demonstrates a high purification efficiency (reducing inclusions in steel by 68%, and lowering the total oxygen content from 56.3 ppm to 13.5 ppm). Finally, the formation mechanism of in-situ β-SiC whiskers, the role of microporous Al2O3-MgAl2O4 raw material in purification function, and the comprehensive molten steel purification mechanism were proposed.