Application of thermodynamic modeling to slag-metal equilibria in steelmaking

The knowledge of the non-metallic phases in equilibrium with liquid steel is very important to the design and control of the results of steelmaking operations, in particular deoxidation, desulfurization and inclusion shape control. Thus, through the control of steel and slag composition it is possible, for instance, to tailor non-metallic inclusions to achieve maximum deformability, to avoid nozzle clogging in continuous casting and to optimize the use of deoxidants. However, the solution of this type of problems requires adequate thermodynamic models and corresponding databases both for the metal phase and for the slag.