Various carbon contents in the MgO-C refractory were studied with respect to the oxidation resistance and the wetting behavior with slag. The bulk density, apparent porosity, cold crushing strength, oxidation rate, and mass loss rate of the fired MgO-C refractories with various carbon contents were measured and compared. The wetting and penetration behavior of the cured MgO-C refractory with the molten slag were observed in-situ. The contact angle and the shape parameters of molten slag, including the apparent radius, height, and volume were compared. The results showed that the regenerated MgO effectively restrained the carbon oxidation in the MgO-C refractory, which was more evident at the low carbon content refractory. The contact angle between the MgO-C refractory and the molten slag increased as the carbon content increased. The increased contact angle decreased the penetration of the molten slag.

In the process of metal purification, the study of controlling the morphology and size distribution of non-metallic inclusions in steel based on electric fields has attracted extensive attention. However, the action mechanism of electric fields on inclusions in liquid steel has not been clearly identified. In this paper, the influence of pulse current on the quantity, size, and distribution of alumina inclusions in liquid steel was explored through a high-temperature energization experiment, and the action mechanism of pulse current was expounded based on the angle of interface free energy. The results show that the number of small alumina inclusions in the steel after electric pulse treatment (the pulse current density was 0.1–3 A/cm², the frequency was 100 Hz, and the pulse waveform was a square wave) was significantly increased compared with the sample without electric pulse treatment, and the particle size was concentrated at 2–5 μm, and the inclusions were concentrated in the upper and lower parts of the sample. However, in the samples without electrification treatment, the large particles of inclusions are the majority, the particle size was concentrated at about 10 μm, and the inclusions were concentrated in the upper and middle parts of the samples. When the pulse current was applied to the molten steel, the interfacial free energy of the internal system of liquid steel alumina inclusion was reduced, the nucleation of alumina inclusion was promoted, the aggregation growth between alumina particles was inhibited, and then the migration and distribution of inclusions were also affected. The experimental results could provide technical support for high-quality steel smelting production to a certain extent.

We explored the effects of different solution treatment temperatures on the microstructure, mechanical properties and wear resistance of alloyed high-manganese steel, as well as the correlations among the three parameters. The results indicated that the average grain size of high-manganese steel first decreases and then gradually increases with an increasing solution temperature. After solution treatment, the surface hardness of the high-manganese steel is lower than that of untreated steel. At a solution treatment temperature of 1050 °C, the surface hardness value is lowest, at 253.1 HV. In addition, the optimal combination of tensile strength, yield strength and work hardening rate is observed at a solution treatment temperature of 950 °C. The friction performance test results revealed that the average friction coefficient on the surface of the high-manganese steel first decreased and then increased with the increase in solution treatment temperature. After solution treatment at 950 °C, it reached a minimum value 0.273 due to oxidation friction. Meanwhile, the hardness of the steel after friction increased rapidly because of its excellent work hardening ability, so the wear rate was relatively low, approximately 0.223 × 10⁻¹³ m²/N, demonstrating optimal wear resistance. After solution treatment, the average grain size of high-manganese steel changed, and there was a transformation of the wear mechanism; the friction and wear mechanism shifted from a combination of particle wear and fatigue wear to adhesive wear, with particle wear as the auxiliary.