The structure and medium range order of aluminosilicate melts and its impact on thermodynamic and transport properties

Aluminosilicate melts play an important role in pyrometallurgical processes. The structural behaviour of Si and Al in aluminosilicate melts has a significant effect on its properties, but modelling of the liquid structure is complicated due to higher degree of freedom of the atomic arrangements. It allows for additional species to exist and makes it dicult to strictly apply a crystal-like structural model. This difficulty has been exemplied by spectroscopic observation of non-stoichiometric species of Si, Al and O. The creation and abundance of these structural species is primarily determined by the cation eld strength and temperature and provides important insights into the behaviour of alumina in these melts. The amphoteric behaviour of Al2O3 is evaluated and it is found that the same principles are applicable to Fe2O3, FeO and MgO. Furthermore, it is illustrated how these structural aspects are linked to the thermodynamic and transport properties of silicate melts.status: publishe