Solid-state decarburization kinetics of high-carbon ferrochrome powders by microwave heating

Solid-state decarburization kinetics of high-carbon ferrochrome powders was investigated by microwave heating. Calcium carbonate powders were used as a solid decarburizer. The high-carbon ferrochrome powders and calcium carbonate powders were mixed at the mole ratio between carbon in the high-carbon ferrochrome powders and CO₂ decomposed from the calcium carbonate powders of 1:1 and 1:1.4. Then the mixtures were heated at different temperatures and decarburized in a microwave heating field. The carbon content of decarburized materials was measured and the apparent activation energy of decarburization reaction was calculated. Experimental results show that as the proportion of calcium carbonate in the mixtures enlarges, the decarburization rate increases, but the heating rate of the mixtures decreases. The decarbonization rate is higher at a higher temperature and for a longer holding time at the same mole ratio. The highest decarbonization rates are 65.56% and 82.96% for both the mixtures decarburized at 1200℃ for 60 min, respectively. Carbon activation diffusion and CO₂ adsorption diffusion in the high-carbon ferrochrome powders are enhanced in a microwave heating field. Solid-phase decarburization approximates the first-order reaction and the apparent activation energy of decarburization reaction is 68.43 kJ·mol^-1.