Experimental and density functional theory studies on size-dependent adsorption behavior of CaO nanoparticles on Al2O3 in liquid steel

The properties of particles in nano-scale has been found significantly different, whereas the reaction mechanisms and adsorption behaviors of nanoparticles in liquid steel under high temperature are still not fully clarified due to the experimental difficulties. In this study, in-situ experiments and density functional theory calculations were adopted to reveal the differences of adsorption phenomenon between Al ₂O ₃inclusions and CaO particles of different sizes. It is concluded that the adsorption speed and bond strength between CaO and Al ₂O ₃are both larger for CaO with smaller sizes. The surface of Al ₂O ₃will become rough due to chemical adsorption of CaO, encouraging more Ca atoms to participate in the adsorption and thus accelerating the adsorption process. This work presents a new insight into the reactions concerning inclusion modification in liquid steel in nano-scale and also help create opportunities for the application of nano-materials in high-efficient smelting.