Effects of Cr2O3 and MnO on the Melting and Rheological Properties of High-Alumina Slag Containing 30 wt.% Al2O3
摘要
High-alumina slags in chromium-bearing pyrometallurgical processes require reliable control of melting behavior and fluidity. In this work, the effects of Cr2O3 and MnO on the melting temperature and viscosity of CaO–SiO2–MgO–Al2O3 slags were investigated using in situ hot-thermocouple measurements and rotating-cylinder viscometry, with FactSage 8.1 calculations as thermodynamic support. Experimentally, the melting temperature increased by ~ 60°C for each 5 wt.% Cr2O3 added (5–15 wt.%), and rose from 1500°C to 1545°C as MnO increased from 3 wt.% to 9 wt.%. Cr2O3 significantly increased viscosity (2.39 Pa s at 1600°C for 5 wt.% Cr2O3 vs 0.37 Pa s without Cr2O3) and the apparent viscous-flow activation energy, suggesting enhanced network polymerization and/or increased solid-phase tendency. In contrast, MnO addition reduced viscosity (0.99 to 0.64 Pa s at 1450°C for 0–6 wt.% MnO), consistent with depolymerization of aluminate/silicate structural units. The quantified trends provide guidance for balancing slag fluidity and operating temperature windows in high-alumina industrial slags containing Cr and Mn.