Phase equilibria study of the ZnO–‘FeO’–SiO₂–MgO system at Po₂ 10⁻⁸ atm

ABSTRACT

Experimental studies on the liquidus temperature and phase relations of the ZnO–‘FeO’–SiO₂–MgO system have been investigated at Po₂ 10⁻⁸ atm related to the copper smelting slag. The experimental technique applied in present study involves master slag preparation, high-temperature equilibration, quenching and EPMA analysis. The impact of MgO content on the liquidus temperature and partitioning behaviour of ZnO has been evaluated. It was found that the presence of MgO content in the slag can significantly increase liquidus temperature in spinel primary phase field and narrow the full liquid area at a given operating temperature. The ZnO and MgO concentrations in the liquid phase are higher than those in the spinel phase. The present study provides more accurate information for copper smelting slags and optimisation of the thermodynamic modelling.

KEYWORDS:

• Phase equilibrium
• copper smelting slag
• ZnO–‘FeO’–SiO₂–MgO
• EPMA

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dongying Fangyuan Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. and The University of Queensland, through the ‘Fangyuan Fellowship’, for providing the financial support to enable this research to be carried out. The University of Queensland International Research Tuition Award (UQIRTA) and China Scholarship Council (CSC) for providing scholarships for Mr H. Liu. Mr Ron Rasch and Ms Ying Yu of the Centre for Microscopy and Micro-analysis at the University of Queensland, who provided technical support for the EPMA facilities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Fangyuan Fellowship; China Scholarship Council (CN); The University of Queensland International Research Tuition Award (UQIRTA).