Carbothermic reduction of pirolusite to obtain carbon-bearing ferromanganese and slag suited to the development of welding materials

Summary

This article examines the process for obtaining high carbon ferromanganese by means of carbothermic reduction in a direct current electric arc furnace. It establishes the ideal composition of slag oxides to make a flux for use in submerged arc welding (SAW). The charge components (pirolusite, coke, steel wool, lime, rutile and fluorite) are calculated for a flux-free technology to obtain FeMn taking into account the characteristics of welding fluxes under the SiO₂–MnO–CaO system. Reduction experiments are applied to the charge materials so as to obtain FeMn and slag, which are then used to develop an SAW flux.