Spinel deoxidation equilibria in the Fe-Mn-Al-O system - experiments and computation

Abstract

The concentration and chemical potential of oxygen in liquid Fe--Mn alloys equilibrated with the spinel solution, (Fe, Mn)Al₂+2xO₄+3x , and alpha -Al₂O₃ have been determined at 1873K as a function of manganese concentration. The composition of the spinel phase has been determined using electron probe microanalysis. The results are compared with data reported in the literature. The deoxidation equilibrium has been computed using data on free energy of solution of oxygen in liquid iron, free energies of formation of hercynite and galaxite, and interaction parameters reported in the literature. The activity--composition relationship in spinel solution was derived from a cation distribution model. The model is in excellent agreement with the experimental data on oxygen concentration and potential and the composition of the spinel phase.