Metal droplet entrainment by solid particles in slags : a combined phase field-experimental approach

This doctoral work investigated metal droplet entrainment by solid particles in slags with a combination of two experimental set-ups and two phase field models. The binary model with limited complexity already clarified our view of the interaction between metal droplets and nonreacting solid particles to a great extent. For example, the fact that the movement of one phase with respect to the others influenced the apparent wetting regime is very interesting for the interpretation of experimentally obtained results. Moreover, the two different types of experiments confirmed that a chemical reaction might lay at the origin of the attachment, but that it requires nucleation sites in the form of metal droplets before it takes place. However, the first phase field model assumed nonreactive solid particles. Thus, a model concerning the growth of the solid phase in a realistic quaternary oxide system was also considered. Future work needs to consider the interaction of reacting metal droplets with reacting solid particles in a realistic liquid slag