Improving the Continuous Copper Converting Process Using Ferrous Calcium Silicate Slags. Replacement of refractories due to slag attack is a major cost in the copper making process. Metallurgists need to find a better slag which retains the benefits of current slags but is less aggressive towards refractories. This project will assess the suitability of a newly proposed ferrous calcium silicate slag for continuous copper converting. The outcomes will be to: (1) provide fundamental knowledge of ....Improving the Continuous Copper Converting Process Using Ferrous Calcium Silicate Slags. Replacement of refractories due to slag attack is a major cost in the copper making process. Metallurgists need to find a better slag which retains the benefits of current slags but is less aggressive towards refractories. This project will assess the suitability of a newly proposed ferrous calcium silicate slag for continuous copper converting. The outcomes will be to: (1) provide fundamental knowledge of the properties of the SiO2-CaO-FeO slag system, (2) provide data on the rate and mechanism of refractory attack by this slag and (3) enable the copper smelting industry to assess the potential of this slag to reduce operating costs.Read moreRead less
X-ray tomographic analysis and modelling of metallurgical coke. This project will apply 3D X-ray micro-tomography and model-based computational analysis to develop innovative approaches to the micro-structural characterisation of metallurgical coke. This has significant ramifications for the iron industry since coke characterisation is of primary importance to improved blast furnace productivity. The project will deliver new quantitative indices of coke microstructure, develop models for simulat ....X-ray tomographic analysis and modelling of metallurgical coke. This project will apply 3D X-ray micro-tomography and model-based computational analysis to develop innovative approaches to the micro-structural characterisation of metallurgical coke. This has significant ramifications for the iron industry since coke characterisation is of primary importance to improved blast furnace productivity. The project will deliver new quantitative indices of coke microstructure, develop models for simulation of micro-structural properties and coke transport properties, and examine coke reactivity in 3D contexts. This project will also be the first study to use multi-scale 3D X-ray tomographic analysis to examine the structural dynamics of coke during both its production and its use in the blast furnace.Read moreRead less