The Kinetic Mechanism of the Thermal Decomposition Reaction of Small Particles of Limestone at Steelmaking Temperatures

Abstract

Converter blowing limestone powder making slag steelmaking process has the advantages of low carbon and high efficiency, and can realize the resource utilization of CO2 in the metallurgical process, which is in line with the development direction of green metallurgy. Based on a thermogravimetric-differential thermal analyzer, the kinetic mechanism of decomposition of small limestone at steelmaking temperatures was investigated by a modified double extrapolation method. The results showed that with a higher rate of heating, limestone decomposition lagged, and decomposition temperature increased. Furthermore, the smaller the limestone particle size, the lower the activation energy of decomposition. Compared with N2, air, and O2, small limestone powder used for converter blowing could complete more rapid decomposition, and the time required for decomposition shortened by about 1/3, although the decomposition temperature increased in the CO2. The limestone decomposition rate increased and then decreased at low to high CO2 partial pressures. With a limiting link, the inhibition was more significant under high CO2 partial pressure, but the reaction can be fully completed by 1000 °C. The decomposition type modeled was stochastic nucleation and subsequent growth. As the partial pressure of CO2 increased from 25% to 100%, the number of reaction stages, n, increased.