Interfacial phenomena in the liquid copper-calcium ferrite slag system

The surface and interfacial tensions of the copper-calcium ferrite. slag system were determined at 1573 K as a function of oxygen and sulfur pressures and CaO content in the slag. The effect of a 219 mass pct SiO2 addition to the calcium ferrite slag was also investigated. The measurements were carried out using the sessile drop technique with a high-temperature X-ray setup. The surface tension of copper was found to be a-strong function of oxygen and sulfur partial pressures. The surface tension of the calcium ferrite slag decreased slightly with CaO addition. On the other hand, CaO had a negligible effect on the interfacial tension of the system. Surface tension of the slag and the interfacial tension were influenced by the oxygen partial pressure in the system. Sulfur partial pressure also altered the interfacial tension between the copper and the ferrite slag. Based on the experimental data, filming and flotation coefficients were calculated to predict the entrainment behavior of copper, by bubble attachment in the ferrite slag.