METALLIC PHASE FORMING IN BARBOTAGE OF MULTICOMPONENT OXIDE MELT BY REDUCTION GAS Report 1. theoretical basis of the process

Metallic phase formation model in the barbotage process of oxide melt by gas-reducing is considered. The model includes following stages: bubbles formation during gas injection into the melt, redu cing of the metal on the bubble surface and its drops concentration on bubble stern and this system “gas bubble – metal drop” movement. The direc tion of this movement was determined by the balance of forces that provide bubble fl oating and metal drop sinking, drops ejection onto the surface, its coalescence and sinking after reaching sizes that provide excess over the sum of the gravity force and the hydrostatic ejection surface tension. The equations related to estimation of the sizes of gas bubble and metal drops moving in the oxide melt without fragmentation, direction of the “gas bubble – metal drop” system movement, the rate of its fl oating and sedimentation and separation conditions. The factors that aff ect stratifi cation processes were determined – that are surface properties of the oxide and metal melts and their interfacial characteristics. These parameters variation controls the formation processes of metal bottom phase.