1960 Volume 68 Issue 780 Pages 294-300
The mixture composed of dunite, fused corundum and sillimanite or magnesia were melted in an electric furnace under reducing condition in order to study the reactions during the melting and the change of the structure of the body.
The addition of corundum was found to promote the so called the “liberation of silica” which was due partly to the evaporation of the reduction products (Si), (SiO), and (SiC), etc., and partly to the elimination of silica as iron alloy, and thus paving the way to the increase spinel formation. On the contrary, corundum remained in the ingot practically unaffected to the reducing action.
By the simultaneous addition of corundum and magnesia a compact structure composed of periclase, forsterite and spinet were formed. And it was found that the proportion of the quantity of the crystals as well as their grain size may be controlled through the change of batch composition. Furthermore, the mixed crystals of periclase-forsteritespinel were obtained.
The addition of the powder of pig iron promoted still more the liberation of silica, and the crystallization of spinel became so remarkable that, under some suitable conditions, the synthesis of pure spinel by electrocast seemed to be possible.
