Significance of Activation Energy in Process Metallurgy

A study of thermal behaviour, thermal degradation kinetics, and effect of composition on flow characterisation of blast furnace slagis important to Understanding the flow characteristics of blast furnace(B/F) slag. It is an important parameter for efficiency/productivity of a blast furnace. In the present study flow characteristics of five different B/F slag(C/S: 1.04, 1.192, 1.107, 1.101, and 1.189) were investigated. This study was predominantly based on the estimation of activation energy. The activation energywas estimated using two methods: differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and High temperature viscometer. DSC of different slagwere measured at 30-1300oC @ 2o, 4o, 6o, 8o and 10oC/min. Activation energywas estimated from such DSC plots using Kissinger and Ozawa methods. It was observed that activation energyis largely dependent on C/S ratio of B/F Slag– The activation energydecreases with increase in C/S ratio. The flow characteristics of different B/F slagwere also investigated by high temperature heating microscope, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The estimated IDT (initial deformation temperature), ST (softening temperature), HT (hemispherical temperature) and FT (fusion temperature) of different B/F slagwas shown in table. Phase analysis of XRD and SEM micrographs support the results of flow characteristics measured by heating microscope.