The present study was aimed at highlighting the final properties of two different steelmaking slags which undergo different cooling rates. The experiments were conducted in laboratory scale using an induction furnace. One of the slags originates from an electric arc furnace (EAF) (high‐alloyed) and the second slag from a basic oxygen furnace (BOF). The treatment of the slag included re‐melting along with different cooling rates. The material collected from the tests was characterized through X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy as well as thermodynamic calculations which were compared with experimental results, for confirmation. The results indicate that both the EAF and BOF slags show increased reactivity with water, as well as a decrease in crystal size when rapid cooling is applied. The wüstite‐type solid solution (Mg,Fe,Mn)O varies in composition depending on the cooling conditions. Metastable Ca3SiO5 was found in the rapidly‐ cooled BOF slag.

Four different Cu-rich polymetallic concentrates (additionally comprising Zn, Pb and impurity elements As, Sb) from various deposits in Sweden are examined, in particular for the sintering tendency during roasting in inert atmosphere. Experiments performed in a laboratory-scale roasting setup between 200 °C and 700 °C in intervals of 100 °C revealed that significant sintering initiates from 500 °C for all four concentrates. Two sintering mechanisms are determined from the examination of the sintered calcines: (1) solid-state assimilation of Cu-, Zn- and Fe-bearing main sulphide minerals to form a high-temperature solid solution, the iss phase belonging to the Cu-Fe-Zn-S system; (2) low-melting liquid phase formation due to partial melting of galena facilitated by the presence of impurity-bearing minerals, mainly the arsenopyrite and Sb sulphosalts such as tetrahedrite. Galena also forms a melt below 700 °C with the iss phase. Therefore, the presence of galena in polymetallic concentrates generally increases the susceptibility to early sintering. These experiments in inert atmosphere facilitate a fundamental study with practical relevance to the roasting in low oxidation potential environments, favourable for volatilization of impurity elements such as As and Sb.

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