Sustained molten steel/concrete interactions tests

Four tests of the sustained interaction between high-temperature steel melts and two varieties of concrete are described. Inductive heating was used to keep the 200Kg stainless steel melts liquid for periods of up to 20 min. A cover assembly over the melt-concrete system controlled emissions produced by the interactions so that quantification of phenomena produced in the tests could be attempted. Measurements of the gas composition, gas temperature, gas generation rate, aerosol emissions, upward heat-flux from the melt, and melt-temperature were made. Gases liberated from the concrete were found to be chemically reduced principally to carbon monoxide and hydrogen as they passed through the melt. The tests provided some evidence that stainless steel may also catalyze the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide to yield hydrocarbons such as methane, ethene, and ethane in the gas stream. The hydrogen/carbon ratio in the gases was not the same as the ratio in the concrete. It is suggested that the gas composition is indicative of the nature of thermal front penetration into the concrete. It is suggested that the gas composition is indicative of the nature of thermal front penetration into the concrete. Gas evolution rates in the test were marked by long and short period oscillations. The short period oscillations are explained in terms of gas escape from the melt. Long period oscillations are not well understood but may be the result of heterogeneity or water migration in the concrete. Copious aerosol of very fine particle size was generated during the tests. Concrete erosion was found to be predominantly downward