2016 Volume 30 Issue 2 Pages 174-181
New technologies for increasing the utilization of iron-scraps are strongly demanded. One of them is liquid-liquid immiscibility phenomena for metals, which can realize the separation, concentration and refining of metals. It have been reported that several alloy systems cause two immiscible liquids. In this report, the progress of researches on the following three systems for liquid-liquid immiscibility phenomena was investigated. (1) In Fe-Cu-C system, it has been reported that a uniform liquid in an Fe-Cu system separates into two immiscible phases, i.e. a Cu-rich phase and an Fe-rich phase, when C is added to the system, and in addition the minor metals contained in an Fe-Cu-C system are distributed between the Cu-rich and Fe-rich phases. In recent years, the distribution behavior of rare metals and the stability of immiscibility under cooling process etc. have been studied. (2) In Fe-Ag system, the copper removal has been tried based on the distribution of copper and the low mutual solubility for liquid Fe phase and liquid Ag phase. The oxidation removal of tramp-elements (Cu and Sn) from carbon saturated iron via silver has been proposed recently. (3) In Fe-Ca system, the refining technology of iron by using Ca and its potential has been discussed.
