On Metallurgical Processes and Non‐Equilibrium Thermodynamics

Taking the vacuum circulation (RH) refining of clean steel (ultra‐low carbon and ultra‐low sulphur steel) as an example, the non‐linear and non‐equilibrium features of metallurgical processes have been illustrated. The similarities and differences between metallurgical reaction engineering and non‐equilibrium thermodynamics have been analysed. A generalized theory of non‐equilibrium thermodynamics is introduced and described. The necessity and feasibility investigating and dealing with practical metallurgical processes from the viewpoints, fundamentals and methods of non‐equilibrium thermodynamics together with metallurgical reaction engineering have been discussed. It is pointed out that in order to really and quantitatively describe practical metallurgical processes, their features of non‐linearity and non‐equilibrium must fully be taken into account, and non‐equilibrium thermodynamics would and can play its role in the metallurgical area.