Effect of Alkaline and Alkaline Earth Metal Sulfide Addition on the Copper Distribution between FeS Flux and Carbon Saturated Liquid Iron

Abstract

Measurements have been made to study the effect of the addition of alkaline or alkaline earth metal sulfide such as Li₂S, K₂S, MgS, CaS, SrS or BaS to FeS flux on the copper distribution ratio between FeS flux and carbon saturated liquid iron at 1673 K. Since each solubility of MgS and CaS in liquid FeS was limited, no apparent effect of MgS or CaS on the copper distribution ratio was observed. Similar to the effect of Na₂S studied in our previous work, the addition of Li₂S, K₂S, SrS or BaS to FeS increased the copper distribution ratio, L_Cu=(mass%Cu)_flux/[mass%Cu]_Fe, and L_Cu reached maximum value at certain content of these additives in each flux. The maximum values of L_Cu measured in each flux were 30, 20, 22 and 19 in FeS-LiS_0.5, -KS_0.5, -SrS and -BaS fluxes, respectively. The sulfur content in liquid iron also decreased by the addition of these sulfides to FeS.