In order to clarify the reaction mechanisms of oxidation and vaporization of Sb in liquid copper by using CuCl–CaO fluxes, the vaporization behavior from CuCl–Sb
2O
3 and CuCl–CaO–Sb
2O
3 fluxes and the reaction behavior of Cu
2O between CuCl–Cu
2O flux and liquid copper were observed at 1423 K with argon gas.
For the vaporization from CuCl–Sb
2O
3 and CuCl–CaO–Sb
2O
3 fluxes, SbCl
3 and SbOCl in flux were observed in the fluxes, and these chloride and oxychloride vaporized to gas phase.
In the reaction between CuCl–Cu
2O and liquid copper, the decomposition of Cu
2O in the flux was confirmed, and the copper weight and oxygen content of copper increased.
The mechanisms of oxidation and vaporization of antimony in liquid copper by using CuCl–CaO fluxes were discussed based on the observed results. The Cu
2O existing in CuCl–CaO flux is dissolved in copper melt, and the oxygen content of copper increases. The antimony in liquid copper is oxidized and removed to slag phase as Sb
3+. The formed Sb
3+ in flux vaporizes from flux as SbCl
3 and SbOCl.
View full abstract