Interaction of exogenous zirconium oxide nanophases with sulfur and tin in nickel melts

Abstract

The interaction of exogenous refractory compound (ZrO₂) nanoparticles with sulfur and tin, which are present as surfactants in model nickel melts, is studied. Thermodynamic calculations are performed to consider the versions of removal of sulfur and tin from a melt in the form of S₂, SO₂, H₂S, Sn, and SnO. It is shown that the probability of their removal under melting conditions is low. Their contents is found to decrease when ZrO₂ nanoparticles are introduced: the degree of removal is α = 12–18% S in a model Ni–S alloy and 14–20% Sn in a model Ni–Sn alloy.