Abstract: Combined with the practice of a domestic steel plant, the thermodynamic analysis and kinetic research for the application of nickel-containing pig iron in the converter smelting of nickel-containing steels were carried out. Thermodynamic calculations show that, whether in standard state or actual condition of converter smelting, the nickel element dissolved into the molten iron or molten steel through the alloying of the nickel-containing pig iron cannot be oxidized to nickel oxide. The melting rate test of nickel-containing iron block in converter smelting of X80-1 steel showed that the melting rate of nickel-containing iron block with 25 mm thickness was 30 s faster than that of scrap steel. The composition test results of converter semi-steel showed that the nickel-containing iron block could be completely melted after being added into the converter in 5 min. At the same time, through the scanning electron microscopy and X-ray power diffraction of the final slag of the converter, no nickel oxide was found, and the yield rate of nickel in nickel-containing iron block was close to 100 %.

Key words: nickel-containing pig iron, nickel-containing steel, converter, alloying