Wettability of cokes by Fe-Mn melt

Abstract

Four metallurgical cokes were heat treated at 1250 °C to 1550 °C in argon atmosphere. The influence of heat treatment on the microstructure of metallurgical cokes was characterized using X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Wettability experiments were carried out using the sessile drop technique. The wettability of cokes with liquid Fe-85wt%Mn at 1550 °C was measured as a function of time. The effect of coke ash content, microstructure, porosity and roughness on the wettability was investigated. In the process of heat treatment, the microstructure of the metallurgical cokes transformed toward the graphitic structure. The Raman spectra showed variations reflecting their temperature histories. Area fraction of G peak increased as the annealing temperature increased and intensity ratios of D to G band decreased with temperature. All the four coke samples showed non-wetting behavior with Fe-85wt%Mn while graphite showed wetting behavior. Coke E with the highest roughness and porosity showed the lowest wettability compared to other cokes. Crystallite size of the coke samples did not seem to have any significant effect on the wettability.