Enhanced Alloy Recovery In Molten Steel Baths Utilizing Cored Wires Doped With Dispersants

Abstract

The present invention provides increased recovery in additive-enhanced or alloy-enhanced molten steel. This is accomplished by dispersing agents blended with the additive alloys. The dispersant powder reacts with the carbon in the steel forming carbon monoxide gas which provides kinetic energy to the additive alloy particle causing dispersion within the molten bath, resulting in greater dissolution of the particles in the molten bath. The alloy or additive region is enriched, thereby improving the recovery in the molten steel.

1 . An alloy delivery device, comprising:
 at least one solid additive dissolvable alloy; and   at least one dispersing agent, the dispersing agent being blended with the alloy to provide a blended substance; and   a metal jacket encapsulating the blended substance;   wherein the dissolvable alloy or the metal jacket, or both are selected so that the alloy remains solid prior to melting of the jacket when the delivery device is added to molten steel.   
     
     
         2 . The alloy delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the metal jacket is steel. 
     
     
         3 . The alloy delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one additive alloy is selected from the group consisting of: FeNb, FeV, and FeTi. 
     
     
         4 . The alloy delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the dispersing agent is limestone. 
     
     
         5 . The alloy delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one dispersing agent is a powder comprised of particles having a diameter of less than one millimeter. 
     
     
         6 . The alloy delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one additive alloy is comprised of ground powder particles having a diameter of less than 1 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The alloy delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one dispersing agent is present in an amount of 5 to 50% of the mixture by weight or volume. 
     
     
         8 . A method of providing an additive alloy to molten steel comprising:
 blending at least one dispersing agent with at least one solid additive dissolvable alloy, to provide a blended substance;   encapsulating the dispersing agent and additive alloy blend in a metal jacket to provide an alloy delivery device;   producing molten steel;   injecting the alloy delivery device into the molten steel;   allowing the jacket to melt in the molten steel;   releasing the dissolvable alloy in solid form from the melted metal jacket.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the metal jacket is steel. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a wire injector and guide tube arrangement is used to inject the alloy delivery device into the molten steel. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one dispersing agent is limestone powder. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one additive alloy is selected from the group consisting of: FeNb, FeV, and FeTi. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises the step of allowing the metal jacket to melt. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises the step of dispersing the blended substance.