What’s the Recarburizer purpose in steel making?

Recarburizers are used to adjust carbon levels: Materials that incorporate carbon into the steel in a liquid state. There are many types of materials with the possibility of being used as recarburizers, but the usual ones are:

• Natural amorphous graphite.
• Petroleum coke.
• Synthetic graphite.
• Anthracite.

The higher percentage carbon content in the recarburizer, The higher its effectivity. the fix carbon content around 70%----85% will be widely choosed. If the percentage of ash in the coal is high, the dissolution rate decreases due to the formation of a layer of impurities on the surface of the refueling agent, preventing the transfer of carbon to the molten bath, which increases production times and costs. Another aspect to consider is the negative influence of the acidic components of the ash on the basic refractory lining of the furnace.

In steel making, natural graphite briquette is used agent to increase the carbon content of steel, a material rich in carbon which is added to the still molten product from blowing air through fused cast-iron, in order to remove any traces of oxygen which the iron itself may have taken up. The result of this addition is practically not only the removal of oxygen but the reintroduction of a little carbon, producing the so-called mild steel, which differs little from wrought-iron rendered homogeneous by fusion.

Steel is made in two ways. The first way is by using a basic oxygen furnace (BOF) AKA blast furnace and the second is by using an electric arc furnace (EAF) – the steelmaking furnace which uses the electrodes Glory Graphite manufactures and repairs. 

EAFs are used by the steel works industry as they allow steel to be made from a 100% scrap metal feedstock. This greatly reduces the energy required to make steel when compared with primary steelmaking from ores. Another benefit to using an electric arc furnace is flexibility. While blast furnaces cannot vary their production by much and can remain in operation for years, EAFs can be started and stopped quickly, allowing the steel mill to vary production and steel grades according to demand. 

 Amorphous Graphite Briquette Carbon Raiser Recarburizer

 “Graphite is the only material used in an EAF. It’s an excellent electrical conductor and can withstand a high current density, which is important as the electric arc temperature reaches around 3000 °C (5000 °F).” Graphite also has a host of other benefits:

The particle size plays an important role when the recarburizer is added to the surface of the bath. If the recarburizer is too fine:

• It floats on the surface of the molten bath.
• It burns prematurely.
• It is sucked in by the gas collection system.
• It is removed along with the slag.

If the material is too thick it penetrates deep into the bath, therefore, the reaction surface is too small, causing the recharging to be slow and ineffective.

The most important characteristics that amorphous graphite recarburizer must have been the following features

• It should be easy to introduce to the molten bath.
• Good solubility.
• Good performance.
• Adequate homogeneity.
• High percentage of fixed carbon.
• Low ash, volatile matter and moisture content.

Glory Graphite provides vital graphite solutions to the steelworks worldwide, any further inquiry about the amorphous graphite please contact with us.