RATE OF NITROGEN DESORPTION FROM LIQUID IRON-CARBON AND IRON-CHROMIUM ALLOYS WITH ARGON

The rate of nitrogen desorption from inductively stirred liquid iron, iron-carbon, and iron-chromium alloys with argon carrier gas has been measured by the sampling method for a wide range of nitrogen, carbon, and chromium contents mainly at 1600 degree C. The results obtained by the present work and other data of previous investigators are used to clarify the reaction mechanism of nitrogen desorption from liquid iron. The rate of nitrogen desorption from liquid iron and iron alloys is second order with respect to nitrogen content in the metal under the present condition, and mutual relationships among interfacial chemical reaction, liquid-phase mass transfer, and gas-phase mass transfer are elucidated. Carbon dissolved in iron increases the rate of nitrogen desorption, and chromium decreases it. The effects of these alloying elements can be explained by the change of the nitrogen activity in the metal.