Assessment of a Simplified Correlation Between Wettability Measurement and Dispersion/Coagulation Potency of Oxide Particles in Ferrous Alloy Melt

This article seeks to demonstrate a direct and simplified correlation between the measurement of the wettability and the agglomeration potency of the inclusion particles in liquid ferrous alloy. The established methodology has been validated by the agreement between the calculated coagulation coefficient of Al₂O₃ particles and the experimental data in the open literature. Subsequently, the coagulation coefficient of Al₂O₃, MgO, and Ti₂O₃ particles in ferrous alloy melts was evaluated quantitatively by the proposed method using the actual experimental data of contact angle and surface tension. Meanwhile, the effect of the matrix composition has been investigated by comparing the Hamaker constant and coagulation coefficient between Ti₂O₃/pure iron and Ti₂O₃/low-carbon steel systems. It is noted that the change of coagulation coefficient associated with the contact angle is caused by the formation of a new phase at the oxide/metal interface at the high temperature. The present work aims to provide a deep understanding of the connection between inclusion motion behavior in the liquid alloy and the high temperature interfacial phenomenon.