Combined Effect of Carbon and Oxygen on Nitrogen Absorption During Plasma Arc Melting of Steel.

A laboratory study was made of the reaction between iron containing up to 1. 09% carbon and Ar-N//2 and Ar-N//2-O//2 plasmas. It is shown that during the melting of carbon metal the formation of CO due to the reaction between carbon and oxygen (dissolved oxygen or oxygen from the gaseous phase) has a significant effect. The presence of CO at the plasma 1 metal melt interface can lower the nitrogen partial pressure and accelerate the occurrence of relaxation processes in the boundary layer of the plasma. A method of calculating the chemical activity of the nitrogen in the plasma boundary layer is proposed.