Thermodynamic and Kinetic Study of the Iron-Manganese-Sulfur System at 1300°C

Abstract

<p>In this thesis, a thermodynamic and kinetic study of the ironmanganese- sulfur system is described which is relevant to sulfide transformations in commercial steel at soaking temperatures (~1300°C). Equilibrium and diffusion couple experiments have been carried out to explain the characteristics of formation of sulfides at 1300°C using electron probe microanalysis and metallographic techniques. Apparent semi-conductive behaviour of MnS, which cannot be understood on the basis of simple diffusion kinetics, was observed in the diffusion experiments. The concept of the "virtual" diffusion path adequately rationalized the reaction between Fe-Mn alloys and FeS. Information about the constitution of the 1300°C ternary isotherm was obtained.</p>