Behavior of fluxed lime iron oxide pellets in hot metal bath during melting and refining

Lump lime as a flux material in a basic oxygen furnace (BOF) often creates problems in operation due to its high melting point, poor dissolution property, hygroscopic nature, and fines generation tendency. To alleviate these problems, fluxed lime iron oxide pellets (FLIP) containing 30% CaO were developed in this study using waste iron oxide fines and lime. The suitable handling strengths of the pellet (crushing strength: 300 N; drop strength: 130 times) of FLIP were developed by treating with CO₂ or industrial waste gas at room temperature, while no separate binders were used. When the pellet was added into hot metal bath (carbon-containing molten iron), it was decomposed, melted, and transformed to produce low melting oxidizing slag, because it is a combination of main CaO and Fe₂O₃. This slag is suitable for facilitating P and C removal in refining. Furthermore, the pellet enhances waste utilization and use of CO₂ in waste gas. In this article, emphasis is given on studying the behavior of these pellets in hot metal bath during melting and refining along with thermodynamics and kinetics analysis. The observed behaviors of the pellet in hot metal bath confirm that it is suitable and beneficial for use in BOF and replaces lump lime.