Abstract
The effects of alumina (Al2O3) and magnesia (MgO) impurities on the precipitation of spinels such as magnetite (Fe3O4) due to the oxidation of fayalite (Fe2SiO4) slag in copper smelters were investigated. Molten fayalite slag was oxidized in alumina, magnesia, and quartz sample boats, and spinel precipitation behaviors were compared. The inclusion of Al2O3 and MgO as impurities promoted the precipitation and growth of spinel crystals. It was assumed that this effect was attributed to the rapid formation of hercynite at the interface between the alumina sample boat and slag, growth of spinel due to the substitution of Al and Fe(III) in hercynite, and the solid solution of Mg in spinels. However, as the experiments with quartz sample boats were conducted unavoidably with SiO2 saturated slag, the possibility of suppression of solute diffusion due to increased viscosity and decreased FeO activity in the slag cannot be ignored. Therefore, it is considered that the effects of Al2O3 and MgO on spinel precipitation must be further investigated.
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