Effect of Silicon on the Oxygen Solubility in Ni–Co–Cr Melts

Abstract—A thermodynamic analysis of the effect of silicon on the oxygen solubility in Ni–Co–Cr melts at 1873 K is performed. Small amounts of silicon present in the Ni–Co–Cr melts weakly affect the oxygen concentration, which is determined by the chromium content. The oxygen concentration decreases at a higher silicon content, after changing the interaction mechanism of chromium and silicon with oxygen when silicon determines the oxygen solubility in the melt. However, at high silicon contents, the oxidation ability of silicon in the Ni–Co–Cr melts is substantially lower than that in the Ni–Co melts.