The Copper Partition between Na₂S Bearing Fluxes and Carbon-saturated Iron Melts

Abstract

The copper partition between Na₂S bearing fluxes and carbon-saturated iron melts has been measured by a chemical equilibration technique at 1473K. The results are discussed in terms of the copper capacity CCu which is defined by the following equation.
C_Cu(copper capacity)=(%CuS_0.5)/a_Cu(l)•P^1/4_S2
Of 5 sulfides of alkali and alkali-earth metals examined, the C_Cu value has been found to be in the order of Na₂S>Li₂S>BaS>K₂S> CaS, With the NaS_0.5-FeS system, the higher (%NaS_0.5) leads to the higher C_Cu. The copper partition ratio LCu(=(%Cu)/[%Cu]) was 17 with [%S]-0.01 for the flux composition of 95%NaS_0.5-5%FeS having the maximum C_Cu. Other thermodynamic properties of the sulfides and Fe-C_sat.-Cu-S melts are also studied.