Modelling of Metallothermic Reactions-Local Reaction Rates during Aluminothermic gamma-TiAI-Nb Production

摘要

Although metallothermic reactions are commonly used to produce ferroalloys such as FeV, FeCr or FeNb, the understanding of the reaction mechanism is insufficient to explain several effects during the reaction. At IME Process Metallurgy and Metal Recycling, department and chair of RWTH Aachen University, metallothermic reactions were conducted in laboratory (10 kg) and pilot scale (180 kg) to examine the propagation of the reaction front. It was found, that there exist two subsequent reaction phases with different reaction rates due to the pressure condition in the bulk phase. Depending on the size, density and ignition behaviour of the reaction material and the amount and viscosity of gaseous reaction products, the first or the second phase predominates.