Integrated experimental liquidus and modelling studies of the ternary AgO0.5-FeO1.5-SiO2 system in equilibrium with metallic Ag

Abstract

Abstract Phase equilibria of the AgO0.5-“FeO1.5”-SiO2 system was investigated in the range of 1563 K-1913 K (1290 ℃ -1640 ℃ ) for oxide liquid (slag) in equilibrium with the gas with controlled oxygen partial pressure, Ag metal or Ag-Au alloy, and solid oxide phases: (a) tridymite, cristobalite (SiO2); (b) hematite (Fe2O3), spinel (Fe3O4) and wustite (FeO1+x). High-temperature equilibration on silica, iridium or iron substrates, followed by quenching and direct measurement of the Ag, Au, Fe and Si concentrations in the liquid and solid phases with the electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA) or laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) were used for accurate characterization of the system. Present data were used to develop the thermodynamic models for all phases in this system using FactSage computer package. The present study is a part of the investigation of the thermochemistry of complex multicomponent pyrometallurgical systems.