3. Decarburization

3.1 Interest

Decarburization, also known as refining, is the metallurgical operation that removes some of the carbon from liquid steel. It is only possible in arc furnaces, converters and certain secondary metallurgy reactors.

It essentially enables :

• adjust carbon content;

• to create intense mixing of the liquid bath, resulting in high thermal and analytical homogeneity;

• remove highly oxidizable residual elements (Al, Ti, etc.) by slagging;

• reduce dissolved gas levels (N, H);

• promote the trapping of inclusions by decantation into the slag ;

• use...