Distribution of Calcium and Aluminum Between Molten Silicon and Silica-Rich CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 Slags at 1823 K (1550 °C)

Abstract

Oxidative refining of silicon after tapping from the furnace is performed to remove calcium and aluminum impurities. Depending on the slag composition, the refining limit is determined by the thermodynamic equilibrium between silicon and slag. Silica-rich CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 slags were equilibrated with silicon at 1823 K (1550 °C) in the present study. The results were compared with previous experimental measurements, experimentally measured activities in the slag and thermodynamically modeled data. The present study was found to agree relatively well with most of these works. The concentrations of calcium and aluminum in silicon along the liquidus line for SiO2 saturation were also investigated, and this area was found to have less agreement between different works.