Experimental Study of Phase Equilibria in the Systems Fe-Zn-O and Fe-Zn-Si-O at Metallic Iron Saturation

The reported experimental work on the systems Fe-Zn-O and Fe-Zn-Si-O in equilibrium with metallic iron is part of a wider research program that combines experimental and thermodynamic computer modeling techniques to characterize zinc/lead industrial slags and sinters in the system PbO-ZnO-SiO2-CaO-FeOFe2O3. Extensive experimental invest igations using high-temperature equilibration and quenching techniques followed by electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA) were carried out. Special experimental procedures were developed to enable accurate measurements in these ZnO-containing systems to be performed in equilibrium with metallic iron. The systems Fe-Zn-O and Fe-Zn-Si-O were experimentally investigated in equilibrium with metallic iron in the temperature ranges 900°C to 1200°C (1173 to 1473 K) and from 1000°C to 1350°C (1273 to 1623 K), respectively. The liquidus surface in the system Fe-Zn-Si-O in equilibrium with metallic iron was characterized in the composition ranges 0 to 33 wt pct ZnO and 0 to 40 wt pct SiO2. The wustite (Fe,Zn)O, zincite (Zn,Fe)O, willemite (Zn,Fe)2SiO4, and fayalite (Fe,Zn)2SiO4 solid solutions in equilibrium with metallic iron were measured.