In this review, we summarized the physical factors such as viscosity, surface and interfacial tensions of slag and copper matte affecting the separation between them in copper smelting furnaces. The situation of slag/matte separation and practical measures for keeping the good separability were also introduced. Research results about the matte suspension mechanism in slag by the influences of viscosities, surface tensions and interfacial tensions of slag and matte, and also harmful influences on the slag/matte separation by the magnetite precipitation and the practical measures to reduce magnetite in smelting furnaces were outlined.
