The decrepitation of solidified high titania slags

The decrepitation of high titania slags was studied to gain an understanding of the mechanism of decrepitation. High titania slags consist mainly of a M3O5 phase with an orthorhombic structure. The decrepitation was studied by oxidising high titania slag samples produced in a pilot plant furnace at temperatures between 400°C and 800°C. Samples oxidised at 400°C cracked, while samples treated at higher temperatures did not. The cracking of the samples was linked to the decrepitation of the slags. From the available information we postulated that decrepitation occurs due to changes in the crystal lattice of the M3O5 phase of the slag after oxidation. The nature of these changes is not fully quantified.