Experimental Measurements of Slag/Matte/Metal/Tridymite Phase Equilibria in the Cu-Fe-O-S-Si System at 1200ºC. (17th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sineva, Svetlana; Shevchenko, Maksym; Hayes, Peter C.; Jak, Evgueni
• Is Part Of: Mineral processing and extractive metallurgy review. Volume 43:Number 8(2022)
• Page Start: 989
• Page End: 999
• Publication Date: 2022-11-17
• Subjects: Copper smelting -- copper recycling -- Cu–Fe–O–S–Si system -- copper losses -- low matte grades; Ore-dressing -- Periodicals; Metallurgy -- Periodicals; 621
• DOI: 10.1080/08827508.2021.1998042
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0882-7508

Abstract

ABSTRACT: An experimental study has been carried out to determine the compositions of the slag/matte/metal/tridymite phases in equilibrium in the Cu-Fe-O-S-Si system at 1200℃. The measurements covered the full range of matte compositions from copper-free mattes to white metal, i.e. from 0 to 80 wt% of copper in matte. The research methodology involved high-temperature equilibration, quenching of the samples and accurate measurement of the phase compositions by electron probe X-ray microanalysis. The oxygen concentrations in mattes were directly measured using the EPMA. A comprehensive set of experimental equilibrium data has been obtained for coexisting matte, slag, Cu-Fe metal alloy and Fe-Cu metal alloy phases. It has been shown that solid iron-copper alloys were present at matte grades below 56 wt% Cu, while liquid copper-iron alloys were formed for matte grades higher than 56 wt% Cu. The experimental measurements have been compared with data reported in the literature and the trends calculated using the thermodynamic model descriptions of the system.