Crystallization Behavior in Fluoride-Free Mold Fluxes Containing TiO2/ZrO2 Original Research Article

The time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagrams of fluoride-free mold fluxes containing TiO2/ZrO2 were constructed through the confocal scanning laser microscope (CSLM) technique. It was found that the crystallization temperature of F-free mold fluxes containing TiO2 or ZrO2 increases, while incubation time decreases with increasing basicity. The crystallization tendency increases with the zirconia addition in slag melt, as it may be thought that the addition solubility is limited in molten slag and the solid particles act as heterogeneous nucleation sites. Three types of crystal morphologies were observed, corresponding to different crystallization mechanisms. CaSiO3 and Ca3Si2O7 precipitate in the slag with low basicity, and Ca2SiO4 was formed with increasing basicity. The addition of TiO2 promotes the precipitation of CaTiO3. The logarithm of crystal growth rate increased with increasing isothermal temperature, suggesting that the crystal/melt interface reaction is the controlling step in the present experiment.