Smelting reduction of chromium are with coke by using a plasma jet furnace was investigated to produce 18%-Cr steels.
The operation of the plasma furnace was controllable and stable for the reduction of chromium ore. Chromium ores were successfully reduced to produce 18%-Cr steels (1.03.0%C, 0.0140.019%P, 0.050.09%S) with 9295% of chromium yield where the excess iron was supplied as steel scrap.
The thermal energy released from the transfer-type plasma jet was effectively transferred to reactants and significantly enhanced the chemical reaction rate. It was observed that sulfur in are and coke were substantially removed to gas phase with the proportion of 4050% out of the total input, presumably because CO gas evolving on the reduction carried away sulfur bearing gases from the system.