Phase equilibria to characterise lead/zinc smelting slags and sinters (PbO-ZnO-CaO-SiO2-Fe2O3-FeO)

Abstract

The focus of this thesis in an experimental study of phase equilibria of the six-component system Pb0-Zn0-Fe0-Fe203-Ca0-Si02 in air. This study has been undertaken as part of the wider research program, which is aimed at characterisation of the phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of lead/ zinc smelting slag/ sinter systems. This wider research program is based on the combination of the experimental investigation and computer modelling. A research methodology has been developed for the experimental investigation of phase equilibria. This methodology involves equilibration of an artificial slag at predetermined temperature, quenching and sample examination using state-of-thesart electron probe X-ray microanalysis. This research methodology has been proven to have a range of important advantages over the conventional experimental techniques. This enabled the experimental determination of the following binary, ternary and multi-component systems: -Zn0-Pb0-Si02 ternary including the binaries Pb0-Si02 PbO-ZnO Zn0-Si02 -Ca0-Pb0-Si02 ternary including the binary Pb0-Si02 and ternary CaO-Pb0-0 -ZnO-Fe3O4-Fe2O3 ternary -ZnO-Fe2O3-SiO2 ternary -six pseudo-ternary sections of the form Zn0-qFe2Q3q-(Pb0+Ca0+Si02) in air relevant to industrial lead/zinc smelting systems as follows: n [Table inserted in thesis n unable to be copied] n