Effect of Fe/SiO2 Ratio and Fe2O3 on the Viscosity and Slag Structure of Copper-Smelting Slags

Secondary copper smelting is an effective means of treating waste resources. During the smelting process, the viscous behavior of the smelting slags is essential for smooth operation. Therefore, the effects of Fe/SiO2 ratio and Fe2O3 contents on the viscous behavior of the FeO−Fe2O3−SiO2−8 wt%CaO−3 wt%MgO−3 wt%Al2O3 slag system were investigated. The slag viscosity and activation energy for viscous flow decrease with increasing Fe/SiO2 from 0.8 to 1.2, and increase as the Fe2O3 content increases from 4 wt% to 16 wt% at Fe/SiO2 ratio of 1.2. However, under the conditions of Fe/SiO2 of 0.8 and 1.0, the viscosity and activation energy for viscous flow show a minimum value at Fe2O3 content of 12 wt%. Fe2O3 exhibits amphoteric properties. In addition, the increase in Fe2O3 content raises the breaking temperature of the slag, while the Fe/SiO2 ratio has the opposite effect. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy show that increases in Fe/SiO2 ratio lead to simplification of the silicate network structure, while increases in Fe2O3 content improves the formability of the network. This study provides theoretical support for the related research and application of secondary copper smelting.

Effect of Basicity and Al2O3 on Viscosity of Blast Furnace Slag and Thermodynamic Analysis

With the increased use of laterite nickel ore, the impact of high Al2O3 slag on blast furnace smelting has gradually increased. In this paper, the effects of slag basicity and Al2O3 content on slag viscosity and enthalpy change under constant temperature conditions was investigated. The changes in slag structure were analyzed by activation energy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The relationship between slag components and slag temperature and viscosity when slag heat is reduced was investigated. The results showed that the viscosity first slightly decreased and then significantly increased with increasing basicity at constant temperature. With the addition of Al2O3 content, the viscosity of the slag increases. The activation energy increases with increasing slag basicity and Al2O3. With increasing basicity, the [SiO4]4- tetrahedral unit trough depth becomes shallow, the [AlO4]5- asymmetric stretching band migrates to lower wave numbers, and the slag structure depolymerizes. With the increase of Al2O3 content, the trough of [SiO4]4- tetrahedra deepens and the center of the symmetric stretching band moves to a higher wave number. The [AlO4]5- asymmetric stretching band becomes obvious, indicating the complexity of the slag structure. When the heat decreases, the slag temperature increases as the basicity increases, and the slag thermal stability is better at the basicity of 0.95-1.05. As the Al2O3 content increases, the thermal stability of the slag becomes worse.

Desulfurization Ability of Blast Furnace Slag Containing High Al2O3 at 1773 K

With the consumption of high-quality iron ore resources, the grade of iron ore raw used in the iron making process has gradually decreased. The high aluminum raw materials has led to an increase in the Al2O3 content in the blast furnace slag, which has affected the normal operation of the blast furnace. The activity of the components involved in the desulfurization reaction is an important factor affecting the desulfurization process. In this paper, the effects of B(w(CaO)/w(SiO2)) and w(MgO)/w(Al2O3) on the desulfurization ability of a CaO-SiO2-MgO-Al2O3 quaternary blast furnace slag system were studied by using a double-layer graphite crucible to simulate the process of molten iron dropping through the slag at 1773 K. The desulfurization reaction mechanism of high alumina blast furnace slag is explained from the aspects of slag structure and component activity, which provides a theoretical basis for the reasonable selection of a slag making system under the condition of a high alumina content. The effects of different B and w(MgO)/w(Al2O3) on the slag structure 2343 analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results show that when w(MgO)/w(Al2O3) = 0.50 and w(Al2O3) = 20%, the desulfurization ability and MgO activity of slag increased with the increase of B; when w(Al2O3) = 20% and B = 1.30, the desulfurization ability and MgO activity of the slag increased with the increase of w(MgO)/w(Al2O3). The FT-IR analysis showed that with the increase of B or w(MgO)/w(Al2O3), the dissociated free oxygen ions (O2-) in the slag increased, and the dissociated free oxygen ions (O2-) interacted with the bridging oxygen (O0) of silicate, which made the complex Si-O structure in the slag gradually depolymerize and increase the desulfurization ability.

Viscosity and Structural Investigation of High-Concentration Al2O3 and MgO Slag System for FeO Reduction in Electric Arc Furnace Processing

In the present study, the viscosity of the CaO–SiO2–FeO–Al2O3–MgO slag system was measured for the recovery of FeO in the electric arc furnace (EAF) process using Al dross. Considering the MgO-saturated operational condition of the EAF, the viscosity was measured in the MgO-saturated composition at 1823 K with varying FeO and Al2O3 concentrations. An increase in the slag viscosity with decreasing temperature was observed. The activation energy was evaluated, and the change in the thermodynamically equilibrated phase was considered. The changes in the aluminate structure with varying FeO and Al2O3 concentrations were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, which revealed an increase in the [AlO4] tetrahedral structure with increasing Al2O3 concentration. Depolymerization of the aluminate structure was observed at higher FeO concentrations. The Raman spectra showed the polymerization of the silicate network structure at higher Al2O3 concentrations. By associations between the silicate and aluminate structures, a more highly polymerized slag structure was achieved in the present system by increasing the Al2O3 concentration.

Effect of TiO2 content in slag on Ti content in molten steel

A calculation model of activity for CaO–SiO2–MgO–Al2O3–TiO2 slag is established according to molecular-ion coexistence theory of slag structure to calculate the activities of Al2O3, SiO2, and TiO2 in the slag. The possibility of TiO2 reduction in the slag during refining is analyzed by thermodynamics and verified by laboratory and industrial experiments. Both theoretical analysis and laboratory experimental results show that the content of TiO2 in the ladle slag significantly influences the Ti content in molten steel. When the content of the dissolved aluminum in molten steel is 0.030–0.050%, the TiO2 content in the ladle slag should be controlled below 0.3% to prevent TiO2 reduction. The critical content of TiO2 decreases with an increasing amount of the dissolved aluminum in molten steel. In addition, silicon should be used as a deoxidizer during diffused deoxidization because aluminum as a deoxidizer would lead to the reduction of TiO2. The industrial experiments confirm the results of the laboratory experiments and thermodynamics analysis.

Thermodynamic Properties, Viscosity, and Structure of CaO–SiO2–MgO–Al2O3–TiO2–Based Slag

The effect of TiO2 and the MgO/Al2O3 ratio on the viscosity, heat capacity, and enthalpy change of CaO–SiO2–Al2O3–MgO–TiO2 slag at constant heat input was studied. The variation of slag structure was analyzed by the calculation of activation energy and FTIR spectrum measurements. The results showed that the heat capacity and enthalpy change of the slag decreased with the increase of TiO2 content. Under constant heat supply, the fluctuations in slag temperature were relatively apparent, and the temperature of slag increased as the TiO2 content increased. The viscosity of slag decreased due to the increase in slag temperature. Increasing the MgO/Al2O3 ratio could decrease the temperature and viscosity of slag. The effect of increasing the MgO/Al2O3 ratio on the viscosity was more pronounced than the decreasing temperature caused by increasing the MgO/Al2O3 ratio. The apparent activation energy decreased with increasing TiO2 content and MgO/Al2O3 ratio. The Ti–O bonds formed with TiO2 addition, and the Ti–O bonds were weaker than Si–O bonds, which resulted in the decrease in heat capacity and viscosity of slag.

Effect of MgO and K2O on High-Al Silicon–Manganese Alloy Slag Viscosity and Structure

The viscosity, melting proprieties, and molten structure of the high-Al silicon–manganese slag of SiO2–CaO–25 mass% Al2O3–MgO–MnO–K2O system with a varying MgO and K2O content were studied. The results show that with the increase in MgO content from 4 to 10 mass%, the measured viscosity and flow activation energy decreases, but K2O has an effect on increasing those of slags. However, the melting temperature increases due to the formation of high-melting-point phase spinel. Meanwhile, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) were conducted to understand the variation of slag structure. The O2− dissociates from MgO can interact with the O0 within Si–O or Al–O network structures, corresponding to the decrease in the trough depth of [SiO4] tetrahedral and [AlO4] tetrahedral. However, when K2O is added into the molten slag, the K+ can accelerate the formation of [AlO4] tetrahedra, resulting in the increase in O0 and O− and the polymerization of the structure.

The Identification of the Mineralogical Composition of Converter Slags on the Basis of Testing and Diagnostics

The paper describes a methodological system of testing and diagnosing technogenic waste to create new construction composites. The converter slag structure is shown both in the form of lump materials and on the nanoscale. The results of determining the mineralogical composition of converter slags are also presented. Petrographic research of slags and their X-ray diffraction analysis are conducted with the results shown. Special attention is paid to the atomic force microscopy method. It shows that the composing minerals have unique features of the surface topography with the indication of averaged statistical data of characteristics. In further research, this experience can significantly ease the task of determining the bi-calcium silicate in the structure of other types of metallurgical slags. The information about the morphological features of the structure of various minerals will help to use this method as independent in determining the mineralogical composition of the observed materials.