Effect of KAlF4 on the efficiency of hot metal desulphurisation with magnesium

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Abstract

At the hot metal desulphurisation (HMD) stations of Tata Steel’s BOS plant in Port Talbot (UK), KAlF4 is injected together with magnesium in order to increase the fluidity of the slag and thus to decrease the iron loss. Although KAlF4 is successfully contributing to a lower iron loss during HMD, it also has a negative effect on the desulphurisation efficiency of magnesium. Analysis of slag samples from the plant and FactSage calculations showed that the fluorine in KAlF4 reacts with the magnesium, thus preventing the magnesium from reacting with the sulphur.