L. Leontiev et al.
: Optimization of the phase composition of high-calcium-content slag for stabilization
Leopold Leontiev, Oleg Sheshukov, Mikhail Mikheenkov, Ilya Nekrasov, Denis Yegiazaryan
Laboratory of Ferrous Metals Pyrometallurgy, Institute of Metallurgy Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences,
Yekaterinburg, Russia
Optimization of the phase composition
of high-calcium-content slag for stabilization
and the obtaining of hydraulic properties
International Journal of Materials Research downloaded from www.hanser-elibrary.com by SUUB Bremen on October 30, 2016
The technological features of processes for the production
of steelmaking slags for use in building materials and pro-
ducts are presented, and improvement in the properties of
refining slags and slag stabilization via the introduction of
alumina flux are demonstrated. The mechanism of slag sta-
bilization by alumina flux is also discussed. In addition, the
preparation of Portland cement clinker with a high content
of iron oxides from slag with a controlled phase composi-
tion is described.
Keywords: Steelmaking slags; Phase composition; Belite;
For personal use only.
Stabilization; Portland cement clinker
1. Introduction
Under modern steelmaking production conditions, two
main types of slags are generated: oxidative slags from met-
al refining in electric arc furnaces (EAF slag) and basic
oxygen furnace (BOF slag) and restorative slags from refin-
ing in \ladle furnaces" (LF slag).
In EAF and BOF processes, the steel is separated from
admixtures by blowing it with oxygen, resulting in the for-
mation of a significant amount of iron and phosphorus ox-
ides in the slags. In LF process, the steel is separated from
admixtures under restorative conditions in the presence of
a significant amount of lime. As a result, the iron oxides
contained in the slag are restored and transferred into the
steel, while the admixtures contained in the steel are trans-
ferred into the slag.
To reduce the impact of industrial waste on the environ-
ment, slags are further processed. EAF and BOF slags have
stable structures and are used as crushed stone in road con-
struction. The processing of LF slags presents a greater
challenge because of large amounts of low-temperature-
modified belite (c-C2S) formed via complex polymorphic
transformations of high-temperature-modified belite (a-
C2S, a’-C2S, and b-C2S) during cooling from 1425 8C to
530 8C, which is accompanied by an increase in volume
and disruption of the slag into dust particles. The presence
of significant quantities of dust particles after the decompo-
sition of LF slags hampers their mass processing into
crushed stone and causes the undesired emission of dust
particles at waste storage sites.
Int. J. Mater. Res. (formerly Z. Metallkd.) 107 (2016) 3
There are four basic methods for stabilization and pre-
vention of the decomposition of such slags:
1. Borate stabilization is based on partial replacement of
tetrahedral SiO44– ions with BO33– ions in the belite
structure, which prevents the polymorphous transforma-
tion of a-C2S and b-C2S to c-C2S [1, 2].
2. Non-borate stabilization is based on the isomorphic re-
placement of Ca2+ with Mg2+, K+, Ba2+, Cr3+, Mn2+, or
SiO44– for SO42– or PO43– [3]. The oxides MgO, Al2O3,
Fe2O3, BaO, K2O, P2O5, and Cr2O3 are used to stabilize
high-temperature-modified a-C2S and a’-C2S. The ox-
ides Na2O, K2O, BaO, MnO2, and Cr2O3 [4] are used to
stabilize b-C2S.
3. Thermal stabilization of high-temperature-modified be-
lite is based on its hardening (sharp cooling), which
causes the larnite b-C2S phase to acquire a metastable
lifetime from room temperature up to 700 8C [5].
4. Chemical stabilization is based on the formation of a
slag phase composition that does not contain belite
C2S [6].
The influence of stabilizing agents on belite and alite poly-
morphic modifications has been extensively studied in rela-
tion to the high-temperature chemical technology of cement
[7]. The quantities of additives that provide phase stabiliza-
tion for Portland cement preparation are Cr2O3 (0.25 wt.%),
V2O5 (0.25 wt.%), P2O5 (3.0 wt.%), MnO (3.0 wt.%), and
As2O5 (3.0 wt.%) [8]. However, different additives are re-
quired for the stabilization of LF slags from those that are
used to stabilize Portland cement clinker. Not all of the ad-
ditives used in cement technology can be applied in metal-
lurgy. For example, the oxides B2O3 and P2O5 under reduc-
tion melting conditions can deoxidize to B and P and move
into the metal. There are very low acceptable contents for
B and P in the steel. In addition, the oxide As2O5 is very
toxic and can volatilize under reduction melting conditions.
To satisfy the requirements for metallurgical technology,
slag stabilizers must meet the following requirements:
. reduce the viscosity of the slag;
. increase the surface tension between the slag and the
metal;
. increase the degree of desulfurization;
. not destroy the refractory lining of the LF;
. stabilize the slag;
. provide stable hydraulic properties for the slag.
To reduce slag viscosity, fluorite (CaF2) is typically used
[9]. For refining slags in LF units, however, the addition of
269
 L. Leontiev et al.: Optimization of the phase composition of high-calcium-content slag for stabilization

CaF2 is limited because of its high reactivity, which can
result in damage to the LF lining and cause low sulfur capa-
city and high toxicity of the fluorine compounds released
during its decomposition at high temperature.
Some researchers [10] have reported that increasing the
slag surface tension between the metal and refractory has a
positive effect on the properties of refining slag. Because
of the poor wettability properties of refractory materials by
such slags, the slags do not penetrate into the refractory,
leading to increased refractory resistance and reduced in-
volvement of drops of these slags in the steel and vice versa.
As a result, the content of harmful oxide inclusions in the
metal and metal loss in the form of the droplets in the slag
are also reduced.
To ensure good steel desulfurization, the LF slag should
International Journal of Materials Research downloaded from www.hanser-elibrary.com by SUUB Bremen on October 30, 2016
and stabilizing properties was investigated. LF slags mainly
contain the oxides CaO, SiO2, and Al2O3, in addition to
MnO, FeO, MgO, and others, and the content of each oxide
varies over a wide range. In the present study, the refining
slag sample (Table 2) was used as the basic chemical com-
position of the LF slag. This chemical composition was var-
ied by changing the contents of the SiO2 and Al2O3 flux.
Quartz sand (98.9 wt.% SiO2) was used as the SiO2 source.
The alumina flux was based on secondary aluminum pro-
duction wastes, and its chemical composition is shown in
Table 3.
Slag formation was performed in a manner that allowed
the formation of phases with binding capacities. Figure 2
shows a schematic of the \A–B–C" process in the CaO–
SiO2–Al2O3 region of the phase diagram. The concentra-

contain 50 – 70 wt.% CaO, 20 – 35 wt.% Al2O3, and tions of the main oxides were varied as follows: CaO from
10 wt.% SiO2 [9]. The greatest sulfur partition ratio ((S)/ 40 to 80 wt.%, and SiO2 and Al2O3 from 10 to 50 wt.%.
[S]), which should be more than 600, is reached in the re-
gion where C3S and CaO exist in the liquid phase.
In the present study, the effect of the phase composition
of LF slags on their refining and stabilizing properties was
investigated. In addition, the preparation of mineral binders
based on EAF and LF slags was explored.

2. Experimental procedures

The chemical compositions of the different types of steel-

making slags have significant differences. EAF and BOF
For personal use only.

slags contain large amounts of silicon and iron oxides and

minor amounts of calcium oxides. LF slags, conversely,
contain significant amounts of calcium, aluminum, and
magnesium oxides and minor amounts of silicon and iron
oxides. The average chemical compositions of the two
types of slags are shown in Table 1. (a)
In addition, the mineralogical compositions of the EAF/
BOF and LF steelmaking slags also differ, as revealed by
X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis (see Fig. 1). The XRD
pattern for a slag from an electric arc furnace contained
wustite (FeO), magnetite (Fe3O4), merwinite (C3MS2;
3CaO · MgO · 2SiO2), and high-temperature-modified be-
lite (larnite; b-C2S), while that for an LF slag indicated
the presence of three main phases: mayenite (C12A7;
12CaO · 7Al2O3), periclase (MgO), and low-temperature-
modified belite (shannonite; c-C2S, c-2CaO · SiO2). The
phase compositions of the EAF and LF slags (wt.%) as de-
termined from the XRD analysis were FeO (20.4); Fe3O4
(24.1); C3MS2 (15.9); b-C2S (38.15); and the remainder
(1.45) and C12A7 (37.2); MgO (12.5); c-C2S (41.4); and
the remainder (8.9), respectively.
(b)
Using the simplex-lattice design method, the influence of
the phase compositions of LF slags on their slag refining Fig. 1. X-ray analysis data of (a) EAF and (b) LF slags.

Table 1. Slag chemical compositions.

Slag type Content in the slag (wt.%) Mo Kact*

CaO SiO2 Al2O3 FeO MnO MgO Cr2O3

EAF slags 26.2 13.8 3.72 26.0 5.51 6.7 1.69 1.88 0.27
LF slags 53.8 8.0 21.6 1.1 1.42 9.8 0.23 2.15 2.7

* Kact = Al2O3/SiO2

270 Int. J. Mater. Res. (formerly Z. Metallkd.) 107 (2016) 3

 L. Leontiev et al.: Optimization of the phase composition of high-calcium-content slag for stabilization

The measurements were performed at 14 locations on

each sample. Slag viscosities were determined at different
temperatures. The phase composition of each slag was de-
termined after cooling of the sample. The reported results
were obtained using a polynomial regression equation of
the third degree.
Because the preliminary assessment of the stabilization
of the slag due to the addition of the alumina flux was per-
formed over a broad area of the CaO–SiO2–Al2O3 phase
diagram with a very large variation interval for the alumina
flux content (13.3 wt.%), the region identified as represent-
ing the optimal alumina flux content was determined with a
very high degree of error.
To clarify the mechanism and the exact boundaries for
LF slag stabilization using the alumina flux, the flux was
International Journal of Materials Research downloaded from www.hanser-elibrary.com by SUUB Bremen on October 30, 2016

then introduced into the model slag at concentrations rang-

ing from 10.0 to 30.0 wt.% in increments of 2.0 wt.%. Each
mixture was placed in a crucible and heated to 1 350 8C,
held at this temperature for 2 h, and then cooled in the fur-
nace.
The model slag contained a significant amount of doped Fig. 2. The experiment plan in the field A–B–C of the diagram CaO–
oxides (MnO2, Cr2O3, etc.) that can independently exert a SiO2–Al2O3.
stabilizing effect on belite. To prevent their influence on
the stabilization process, similar experiments were con-
ducted in parallel using pure belite synthesized at 1 400 8C
(isothermal exposure for 2 h followed by cooling in the fur-
nace) from a mixture of natural minerals (CaCO3 and SiO2)
in different stoichiometric ratios. An appropriate quantity
For personal use only.

of alumina flux and the synthesized belite were placed in a

crucible and heated to 1 350 8C with isothermal exposure
for 2 h, followed by cooling in the furnace. The melted mix-
tures were photographed and their phase compositions were
determined via XRD analysis.
The degree of desulfurization was estimated using Man-
nesmann’s index: M = (CaO/SiO2)/Al2O3, according to
Wcisło et al. [11]. The interfacial tension between the metal
and the slag was determined using the method proposed by
Elfsberg et al. [12].
To determine the influence of the quantity of each com-
ponent on the phase compositions of the slag samples,
simplex lattice designs in the limited simplex field were
employed. Figure 3 illustrates the optimization field. Ac-
cording to the simplex plan, the liquid slags were mixed
with corrective additives and heated under recovery condi- Fig. 3. Field of optimization.

Table 2. Chemical composition of sample refining slag.

Material Content (wt.%)

CaO SiO2 Al2O3 FeO MgO MnO

Model refining slag 65.4 14.0 3.4 0.5 9.6 0.4

Table 3. Chemical composition of alumina flux.

Material Content (wt.%)

Al2O3 SiO2 AlMCT MgO NaCl + KCl + NaF + KF + Na2O + K2O

Alumina flux 20.0 – 75.0 1.0 – 10.0 5.0 – 20.0 5.0 – 12.0 5.0 – 20.0

Int. J. Mater. Res. (formerly Z. Metallkd.) 107 (2016) 3 271

 L. Leontiev et al.: Optimization of the phase composition of high-calcium-content slag for stabilization
tions to 1600 8C. After cooling, the slags were then sepa-
rated from the metal and their phase compositions were
determined using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD 7000, Shi-
madzu, Japan) with high- and low-temperature chambers
and a Hebel’s mirror (D8 Advance, Bruker AXS, Ger-
many).
The slag structures were studied using a scanning elec-
tron microscope with an attachment for the analysis of the
diffraction patterns (HKL EBSD Channel 5, Carl Zeiss
EVO 40, Carl Zeiss, UK).
Thermogravimetric analyses using a scanning calori-
meter (STA 449 F3 Jupiter, Netzsch-Geratebau GmbH)
were also performed according to the DIN 51004 :
1994 method.
International Journal of Materials Research downloaded from www.hanser-elibrary.com by SUUB Bremen on October 30, 2016
3. Results and discussion
Figure 4 presents the viscosities of the slags at 1 500 8C,
along with their phase compositions. The results indicate
that the introduction of additives changed the phase compo-
sition of the slag and stabilized it. The minimum viscosity
For personal use only.
Fig. 4. Viscosity at 1500 8C and phase compositions of slags.
Fig. 5. Results of determination of the exact boundaries and mecha-
nism of slag stabilization by alumina flux introduction in the model
slag.
272
was observed for the slag with a high SiO2 content, but in
this area, the periclase (MgO) was converted to CMS2,
C2MS2, and C3MS2 phases, and the refractory lining resis-
tance was decreased. Note that the stability of the model
slag increased with the alumina flux content. The optimum
alumina flux content range for achieving a stable slag was
10.0 – 20.0 wt.%. The slag was not stable when the alumina
flux content was less than 10.0 wt.%, and refractory spinel
(MgO · Al2O3) formed in the slag, resulting in an increase
in slag viscosity, when the alumina flux content was greater
than 20.0 wt.%.
Figure 5 presents the results obtained for the exact
boundaries and the mechanism of slag stabilization due to
the introduction of the alumina flux in the model slag, while
Fig. 6 shows the contents of the mayenite and total belite
phases as a function of the alumina flux quantity. The above
results indicate that an increase in the alumina flux content
in the model slag led to an increase and decrease, respec-
tively, in the contents of the mayenite C12A7 and total be-
lite phases.
The total content of belite in the model slag was reduced
from 70.0 to 40.0 wt.% when 30.0 wt.% alumina flux was
Fig. 6. Mayenite and belite phases total content depending on the alu-
mina flux quantity in the model slag.
Fig. 7. Results of the phase content quantitative determination in the
belite samples, synthesized with the addition of alumina flux.
Int. J. Mater. Res. (formerly Z. Metallkd.) 107 (2016) 3
 L. Leontiev et al.: Optimization of the phase composition of high-calcium-content slag for stabilization
added. On the other hand, the mayenite content increased in
this slag sample from 2.0 to 45.0 wt.%. These results indi-
cate that the introduction of alumina flux in the model slag
led to chemical stabilization, i. e., stabilization via conver-
sion of the belite to other, more stable phases such as maye-
nite C12A7.
Figure 7 presents the results for the quantitative determi-
nation of the phases in the synthesized belite samples with
added alumina flux. It can be seen that the c-C2S phase dis-
appeared from the fully stabilized slag because of partial
conversion of belite into gehlenite, as follows:
2CaO SiO2 þ Al2 O3 ! 2CaO Al2 O3 SiO2 ð1Þ
The remaining belite was then converted to the b-C2S form,
with reduction of the total belite content from 100.0 to
International Journal of Materials Research downloaded from www.hanser-elibrary.com by SUUB Bremen on October 30, 2016
55.0 wt.%. The gehlenite content simultaneously increased
from 0 to 45 wt.%. These results indicate that the synthe-
sized belite was stabilized by the alumina flux via two sta-
bilization mechanisms:
. stabilization of high-temperature-modified belite by al-
kali metal ions (Na+ and K+);
. chemical stabilization via the conversion of belite to a
more stable phase (gehlenite, C2AS) in the synthesized
belite.
Figure 8 presents the Mannesmann’s index in the investi-
gated area. A high degree of desulfurization is indicated by
a Mannesmann index value of 0.35 – 0.45 %–1. The calcu-
lated results for the present study indicate that the Mannes-
For personal use only.
mann index value in the optimal area changed from 0.1 to
0.3, and thus, the slags had high desulfurization properties.
This result can be explained considering both the thermo-
dynamics and kinetics of the desulfurization process. The
CaO/SiO2 ratio in the Mannesmann index defines the activ-
ity of free oxygen ions (O2–) in the slag, which determines
the thermodynamics of the process:
ðO2 Þ þ ½S ¼ ½O þ ðS2 Þ ð2Þ
Using Al2O3 in the index as (CaO/SiO2)/Al2O3 or CaO/
(SiO2 · Al2O3) makes it possible to take into account the
Fig. 8. Mannesmann’s index in the investigated area.
Int. J. Mater. Res. (formerly Z. Metallkd.) 107 (2016) 3
slag homogeneity factor. If the content of SiO2 and Al2O3
in the slag is insufficient, a portion of the CaO will not be
present in the homogeneous melt, and the high thermody-
namic drive for desulfurization will not be realized because
of kinetic limitations resulting from the high slag viscosity
and the high percentage of lime remaining in the solid state.
The results of the interfacial tension calculations are
shown in Fig. 9. It can be seen that in the optimal area, the
slag lay close to the maximum surface tension. Conse-
quently, the transfer of nonmetallic inclusions from the
metal to the slag was greatest in this region. This behavior
can be explained by the presence of large polymeric chains
and volumetric silicon–oxygen tetrahedra (SiO44–) in the
slags with high SiO2 contents. A significant portion of the
interatomic bonds was localized (closed) within these poly-
meric formations and thus not involved in the interactions
at the interface. Therefore, the slags with high SiO2 concen-
trations had low surface tension and readily flowed over
many surfaces. On the other hand, the polymer chains and
complexes were destroyed when the SiO2 content in the
slag was reduced and the localized connections within the
polymers were released. As a result, interactions at the in-
terface increased, and thus, the interfacial tension signifi-
cantly increased because of the lack of solubilized CaO
and Al2O3 in the steel.
The fact that the purity of steel with respect to nonmetal-
lic inclusions increases with the alumina content in the slag
is well known in practice. It can also be explained by a de-
crease in refractory wear. Ladle refractory wear results in
an increased quantity of nonmetallic inclusions in the steel
[13]. In this study, it is thought that a significant portion of
the inclusions was generated from the reaction of the slag
and the furnace lining; the refractories were saturated with
the slag and destroyed, and the resultant refractory and slag
particles passed into the melted steel. Therefore, the forma-
tion of an alumina slag with reduced aggressiveness to re-
fractories leads to an increase in steel purity as a result of a
reduction in the content of nonmetallic inclusions.
Furthermore, in practice, ladle slags often contain con-
siderable amounts of FeO and MnO owing to the low de-
Fig. 9. Interfacial tension between metal and slag in the investigated
area.
273
 L. Leontiev et al.: Optimization of the phase composition of high-calcium-content slag for stabilization
gree of deoxidation, but alumina fluxes often contain metal-
lic aluminum. That is, the introduction of flux into the slag
should lead to slag deoxidation, which has a positive impact
on the specific weight and interfacial tension of the slag
droplets. FeO and MnO oxides are substantially heavier
than Al2O3 oxide, and therefore, deoxidized slag droplets
will float on the metal surface and be more rapidly removed
from the metal.
Figure 10, from Ref. [14], shows the experimental data
for the interfacial tension of a representative slag (40 wt.%
CaO, 20 wt.% Al2O3, 40 wt.% SiO2) with various additives
at 1 500 8C. The data presented in the graph reveal that slag
deoxidation (decrease in the iron and manganese oxide con-
tents) led to an increase in the tension at the interface be-
tween the slag and liquid iron. Thus, slag deoxidation with
International Journal of Materials Research downloaded from www.hanser-elibrary.com by SUUB Bremen on October 30, 2016
aluminum should lead to a reduction in the decay of the
ladle slag drops in the metal and consequently in the inclu-
sion formation.
The b-C2S and C12A7 phases formed in the model slag
with added alumina flux had hydraulic properties and were
capable of hardening upon exposure to both air and water.
Typically, the phase C12A7 content in alumina and Port-
land cements is minimal owing to its high hardening rate.
In fact, the C12A7 phase causes binding materials to harden
within 5 – 6 min. However, this rapid hardening is not a dis-
advantage in gypsum-based systems. Mayenite C12A7
when mixed with gypsum dihydrate hardens in water via
the following reaction:
For personal use only.
12CaO 7Al2 O3 þ 12CaSO4 2H2 O þ 113H2 O
¼ 4ð3CaO Al2 O3 3CaSO4 32H2 OÞ þ 6AlðOHÞ3
Using this principle, we have developed waterproof gyp-
sum binders and patented them [15]. These binders are used
for preparing wall plates.
The ratio of the quantities of EAF and LF slags used in
steelmaking is 95 : 5. Therefore, the best solution for waste
minimization is the joint processing of these wastes. As
noted above, LF slags contain significant amounts of Ca
and Al oxides, but minor amounts of Fe oxides, while EAF
slags contain a significant amount of Fe oxides, but minor
amounts of Ca and Al oxides. Mixing of such liquid slags
Fig. 10. The influence of individual components on interfacial
tension of the slag with liquid iron [14].
274
with minor corrective additives may provide Portland ce-
ment clinkers with high hydraulic activity and low energy
consumption.
To remove the excess Fe oxides in EAF slags, the liquid
slags were mixed and heated under reducing conditions in
order to deoxidize the Fe oxides in the pig iron. Figure 11
presents the distribution of C3S phases obtained in the sam-
ples. As can be seen in the figure, the maximum quantity of
C3S was formed when a significant amount of EAF slag
was used. This result can be explained by the fact that such
slags contain a significant amount of larnite and merwinite
(C3MS2). Upon heating, the merwinite incongruently melts
with generated rankinite (C3S2) to form solid MgO, a-C2S,
and a liquid that consists of CaO and SiO2 and is close to
wollastonite in content. If the CaO is introduced to the liq-
uid as limestone, C3S is formed as follows:
T
3CaO MgO 2SiO2 ! ð2CaO SiO2 ÞðsÞ þ ðCaO SiO2 ÞðlÞ
T
þ MgOðsÞ þ 3CaCO3ðsÞ ! 2ð3CaO SiO2 ÞðsÞ
þ MgOðsÞ þ 3CO2 " ð4Þ
Finally, the phase composition of the above-formed slag
consisted of 34.1 % C3S, 27.1 % C2S, 24.0 % C3A, 8.7 %
MgO, and 6.1 % CaO by weight and thus contained a signif-
icant amount of active phases with hydraulic activity, but its
composition was far from that of Portland cement clinker.
In order to determine if the synthesis of a Portland ce-
ment clinker composition was possible using a mixture of
EAF and LF slags, a slag mixture was calculated for Port-
ð3Þ land cement clinker formation with the model characteris-
tics LSF (0.92), SR (2.3), and AR (1.7). Synthesis of clinker
via reductive smelting is a complex technological chal-
lenge, because melting prevents the formation of iron oxide
phases (such as C4AF). The preparation of iron oxide
phases in slag during metallurgical production can be po-
tentially achieved via several mechanisms:
Fig. 11. Distribution of C3S in the field of the experiment.
Int. J. Mater. Res. (formerly Z. Metallkd.) 107 (2016) 3
 L. Leontiev et al.: Optimization of the phase composition of high-calcium-content slag for stabilization
1. Partial restoration of iron oxides during melting;
2. Introduction of additives with a high iron oxide content,
such as EAF dust, into the slag after the full restoration
of the iron oxides;
3. Blowing of pig iron using oxygen after full restoration
of the iron oxides;
4. Production of a half-finished clinker material in the fur-
nace and finishing to Portland cement clinker level in a
rotary kiln.
Note, however, that due to the formation of C3S in the slag,
which leads to a dramatic increase in its viscosity, the appli-
cation of the first three methods can be challenging. Iron
oxide phase formation can reduce the slag viscosity. During
the implementation of the fourth method, C2S and C3A can
be formed in the furnace slag, while C3S and C4AF may be
International Journal of Materials Research downloaded from www.hanser-elibrary.com by SUUB Bremen on October 30, 2016
formed in the rotary kiln.
In the present study, the second method was employed.
EAF dust was introduced into the slag after restoration of
the melted material. The slag and pig iron were then poured
out. Figure 12 presents the qualitative phase composition of
the slag as determined via XRD analysis. The phases of the
Portland cement clinker in the slag included C3S (51.3 %),
C2S (30.1 %), C3A (10.7 %), and MgO (3.8 %) by weight.
No C4AF phase was detected in the slag, indicating that
the iron oxides were recovered before pour out and that the
dust should be inserted into the slag under oxidizing condi-
tions. The chemical composition of the pig iron is shown in
Table 4.
For personal use only.
4. Conclusion
Refining slags in the CaO–SiO2–Al2O3 region of the phase
diagram covering most of the refining slag used in the steel
Fig. 12. X-ray analysis data of slag.
Table 4. Chemical composition of pig iron.
Material Content in the pig iron (wt.%)
C Mn Si P S
Pig iron 3.13 1.26 0.109 0.036 0.021
Int. J. Mater. Res. (formerly Z. Metallkd.) 107 (2016) 3
industry were investigated. The introduction of alumina
flux in such slags was shown to lead to their stabilization,
improvement of their desulfurizing abilities, and an in-
crease in the interfacial tension between the slags and met-
al. As a result, the hydraulic properties of the mineral bin-
ders in the slags were enhanced.
The stabilization of the refining slags occurred via two
simultaneous mechanisms: stabilization of high-tempera-
ture-modified belite by alkali metal ions (Na+ and K+) and
chemical stabilization via the conversion of belite into more
stable phases; for instance, synthesized belite was con-
verted to C2AS. Increased steel desulfurization occurred
upon the addition of fluxes to refining owing an improve-
ment in the homogeneity of the slags and a reduction in
their viscosities. Alumina flux added to refining slags was
also found to result in the breakage of silicon–oxygen tetra-
hedral polymer chains and deoxidation of FeO and MnO
oxides, leading to an increase in the interfacial tension of
the refining slags and improvement in their refining ability.
In addition, the introduction of alumina flux into refining
flags was shown to result in the formation of phases with
hydraulic activity, and these slags were used as mineral bin-
ders together with gypsum dihydrate.
Finally, iron and clinker material similar in composition
to Portland clinker were obtained by co-processing LF and
EAF slags via reduction smelting. The process and an ex-
ample of its implementation were presented.
This applied scientific study (project) was supported by the state
through the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia under Agree-
ment No. 14.604.21.0097 for a grant from 08.07.2014 (unique identi-
fier for applied Scientific Research (project) RFMEFI60414X0097).
References
[1] Y. Pontikes, P. Jones, D. Geysen, B. Blanpain: Arch. Metall. Ma-
ter. 55 (2010) 1167. DOI:10.2478/v10172-010-0020-6
[2] B.L. Demin., Y.V. Sorokin, E.N. Shcherbakov, R.Y. Sharafutdi-
nov (Eds.): Proc. Int. Congr. Fundamental basis of processing
technologies and recycling of industrial wastes, Yekaterinburg,
Russia (2012) 236.
[3] Q. Yang, L. Nedar, F. Engström, M. He (Eds.): Proc. Iron and
Steel Technology Conf., Vol. 1, Ohio, USA (2006) 573. OAI:
espace.library.uq.edu.au:UQ:196472.
[4] B.S. Gorshkov, V.V. Timashev, V.G. Savelyev: Methods of Phy-
sicochemical Analysis of Binding Materials, Higher School, Mos-
cow (1981).
[5] N. Sakamoto: Curr. Adv. Mater. Process. 9 (1996) 803.
[6] N. Sakamoto: Curr. Adv. Mater. Process. 14 (2001) 939.
[7] H.F.W. Taylor: Cement Chemistry, Academic Press, London
(1997). DOI:10.1680/cc.25929
[8] A.A. Pashenko: Theory of Cement, Budivelnik, Kiev (1991).
[9] D.A. Diudkin, S.Y. Bat, S.E. Greenberg, S.N. Marincev: Steel
production in ladle-furnace, Doneck (2003).
[10] S.I. Popel, A.I. Sotnikov, V.N. Boronenkov: Theory of metallur-
gical processes: Manual for High Schools, Metallurgy, Moscow
(1986).
[11] Z. Wcisło, A. Michaliszyn, A. Baka: J. Achiev. Mater. Manuf.
Eng. 55 (2012) 390.
[12] J. Elfsberg, T. Matsushita: Steel Res. Int. 82 (2011) 404.
DOI:10.1002/srin.201000221
[13] N. Tripathi, M. Nzotta, A. Sanberg: Ironmaking Steelmaking 31
(2004) 235. DOI:10.1179/030192304225019360
[14] D.Y. Povolotskiy: Physico-chemical bases of steel production
processes: Manual for High Schools, South Ural State University,
Chelyabinsk (2007).
275
 L. Leontiev et al.: Optimization of the phase composition of high-calcium-content slag for stabilization

[15] Patent of RF 2505504. Composite Waterproof Gypsum Binder/

Mikheenkov M. A., Mamaev S. A., Stepanov A. I., Zuev M. V.,
Pretention 13.07.2012. Published 27.01.2014. Bulletin No. 3.

(Received February 16, 2015; accepted October 8, 2015;

online since January 7, 2016)

Correspondence address

Yegiazaryan Denis Bibliography

Institute of Metallurgy DOI 10.3139/146.111334
Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Int. J. Mater. Res. (formerly Z. Metallkd.)
Amundsen Street, 101
Yekaterinburg
107 (2016) 3; page 269 – 276
Russia # Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
Fax: +7 343 232 91 34 ISSN 1862-5282
International Journal of Materials Research downloaded from www.hanser-elibrary.com by SUUB Bremen on October 30, 2016

E-mail: avari@mail.ru
For personal use only.

276 Int. J. Mater. Res. (formerly Z. Metallkd.) 107 (2016) 3