XRF assessment of microcomposition and basicity index of metallurgical slags

Abstract

Slag analysis is very important in maintaining the quality standards of metallurgical processes. The chemical structure and the physical features of slag play a very important role in the management of blast furnace (BF) processes, favouring the development of the decreasing reactions and acting as a thermoregulator of the furnace by the adjustment of heat transmission through the metallic bath. In this paper, the following ranges of oxides concentrations were obtained in BF slags by X-ray fluorescence with wavelength dispersion (WXRF): 32.29-35.56% SiO2; 42.41-44.1 % CaO; 12.20-15.63% Al2O3; 0.40-0.85% MnO; 5.38-6.17% MgO; 0.45-0.69% FeO. The calculated basicity index of slags varied between 1.031 and 1.103, denoting the acidic character of slags.