Use of Quartz-Containing Materials as Fluxes in Copper Smelting Production

Abstract

Using x-ray phase, chemical, and thermal (20–1200°C) analysis methods, phase composition and thermal properties are evaluated for three specimens of quartz-containing materials used as fluxes in copper smelting production. It is established that quartz in specimens on heating to 1000–1200°C undergoes enantiothropic polymorphic transformation by a scheme: α-quartz → β-quartz → β-cristobalite. In order to evaluate the efficiency of using materials as fluxes for copper smelting production, equations are proposed for calculating fluxing capacity depending on their chemical and phase composition. A dependence is given for the amount of slag formed as a result of slagging flux impurity oxides on material phase and chemical compositions on whose basis losses of nonferrous and precious metals are evaluated. It is suggested that flux materials are heated to a temperature for the start of polymorphic transformations accompanying quartz recrystallization (~560°C) before charging into a metallurgical unit.