The Dissolution of Alumina in CaO-SiO2-Al2O3 Slags

The dissolution of alumina inclusions in CaO-SiO2-Al2O3 based slags have been measured using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). Experiments were carried out over a temperature range of 1477 to 1577°C. It was found that diffusion coefficients calculated from the experimental results showed a dependence on the slag viscosity. This is considered strong evidence that the dissolution process is at least in part controlled by mass transfer in the slag phase. The diffusion coefficients for the alumina particles are estimated to be in the range 10-11 to 10-10 m2/s.