Study on physical properties of Al 2 O 3 -based slags used for the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) – metallurgy method

Abstract The Al 2 O 3 -based slags are playing important roles in the preparation of Cu–Cr alloy through self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) – Metallurgy method. However, the current research on Al 2 O 3 -based slag is mainly concentrated on steel metallurgical slag and electroslag remelting slag, and the research on aluminum thermal reduction slag with high content of Al 2 O 3 is still insufficient. Therefore, systematic studies of the physical properties of slag with high aluminum content were carried out in the present work, and the influence of CaF 2 , CaO, MgO, SiO 2 , and Na 3 AlF 6 on viscosities, liquidus temperatures, densities, and surface tensions of high Al 2 O 3 content slags was measured and analyzed. The results indicated that CaO and CaF 2 have positive effects on the physical properties of Al 2 O 3 -based slags, MgO has positive effects when its content is not over 3%, and SiO 2 and Na 3 AlF 6 have negative impacts. CaO, CaF 2 , and MgO (not over 3%) could be used as additives to improve the metallurgical performance of Al 2 O 3 -based slags in aluminothermic reduction–slag refining method.