Journal of Advanced Materials in Engineering (Esteghlal)

---

Hercynite, FeAl2O4, was synthesized via molten salt synthesis method in the coke bed at 800°C with 3h of holding time. It was synthesized by reacting stoichiometric compositions of Al2O3 and FeCl2.4H2O in eutectic compositions of alkaline chlorides NaCl-KCl-LiCl. The reactant to salt ratio was 1 to 3. The phase formation, and morphology of these synthesized powders after washing and filtration were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were performed at temperatures up to 1000 °C at a heating rate of 10 °C/min in argon atmosphere, to elucidate the different reaction mechanisms in the synthesis of Hercynite by the molten-salt method. The effects of processing parameters including the temperature and holding time on the formation of FeAl2O4 were investigated. The results demonstrated that the formation of FeAl2O4 spinel could be initiated at 700°C. By increasing the temperature to 900 °C and holding time, the amounts of FeAl2O4 particles in the resulting powder increased at the expense of Hematite and Al2O3. Morphology of the synthesized powder was cubic and tetragonal, increased by increasing the holding time and temperature.

---

This study was intended to investigate the effect of injection of aluminium into the crystallizator on type, composition and activity of inclusions in low carbon steel grade USD7. The steel is made in Zob-e-Ahan Isfahan factory and its porosities and inclusions results in the problem of rupturing during rolling process. To improve the quality of this steel, 2.4 mm diameter pure aluminum wires were injected in to the crystallizator at the rate of 2, 4, 6 or 8 m/min in certain periods and then sampling was done. The results indicated that much of the added aluminum changed to aluminum oxide slag, and the remaining part altered the chemical composition of the inclusions. Increased aluminum caused an increase in the activity of alumina and reduction in the activity of other oxides in the slag and existing inclusions in the melt. By increasing Al2O3 activity from 0.313 to 0.649, the Al2O3 formation and oxygen exclusion probability increased in the system. Scanning electron microscopy showed that without aluminium injection, most of inclusions were FeO-MnO type placed around existing porosities in the ingot. The optimum rate of aluminum injection was found to be 4 m/min.

---

In the present study, alkali roasting and oxalic acid leaching were used to extract titanium dioxide from ilmenite, and the effect of ethanol and ascorbic acid on the purity and recovery of titanium dioxide was investigated. In this research, ilmenite was alkali roasted with sodium carbonate for 4 hours at 900˚C. Then, the roasted ilmenite was leached with distilled water for 1 hour at room temperature. Finally, leaching with a mixture of 0.47M oxalic acid and different amounts of ascorbic acid and ethanol was performed at 65˚C. The results showed that using ethanol caused an increase in the amount of recovery and ascorbic acid increased the purity of the extracted titanium dioxide; also, the presence of these two factors at the same time simultaneously increased the amount of purity and recovery of the final product. Eventually, by choosing 0.47M oxalic acid, 0.005M ascorbic acid, and 48% ethanol as the appropriate conditions for leaching media and increasing the leaching time and temperature to 16 hours and 80˚C, it was possible to get titanium dioxide purities which were as high as 93.3% and 90.9%, respectively.