Effect of TiO2 and FeO on viscosity and structure of HIsmelt titanium-containing slag

Abstract

HIsmelt is considered one of the most promising processes for future vanadium-titanium magnetite smelting. In this study, we investigated the effects of TiO2 and FeO on the viscosity and structure properties of HIsmelt titanium-containing slag using the rotating cylinder method, the Fourier Transform Infrared, and Raman. Experimental findings indicate a significant reduction in melting temperature with increasing TiO2 content, accompanied by a rapid decrease in slag viscosity followed by a gradual increase, reaching a minimum at 30 wt% TiO2. The FeO content exerts minimal influence on slag viscosity and melting temperature. FTIR spectroscopy results reveal a gradual depolymerization of the [SiO4] structure with the introduction of TiO2 and FeO while having little influence on [AlO4] and Si–O–Al structural changes. Raman spectroscopy results indicate an increase in Q0 and a decrease in Q1 and Q2 with elevated TiO2 and FeO content, leading to a reduction in the degree of polymerization (DOP) within the silicate structure and, consequently, lower slag viscosity. Maintaining FeO content within the range of 2–4% and TiO2 content at approximately 30 % will be advantageous for industrial production.