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Solubility of some transition metal oxides in cryolite-alumina melts: Part I. Solubility of FeO, FeAl2O4, NiO, and NiAl2O4

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Abstract

The solubilities of FeO, FeAl2O4, NiO, and NiAl2O4 were measured in cryolite-alumina melts at 1020 °C. FeO was found to be the stable solid phase at alumina concentrations below 5.0 wt pct, while FeAl2O4 was stable above that. The corresponding figure for the nickel system was 3.0 wt pct Al2O3. These values correspond to Gibbs energies of formation of the aluminates (from the constituent oxides) of −17.6 and −29 kJ/mol, respectively. In alumina-saturated melts in the range 980 to 1050 °C, the solubilities of both aluminates increased with increasing temperature, the apparent enthalpies of solution being 65 kJ/mol for FeAl2O4, and 249 kJ/mol for NiAl2O4. Investigation of the solubilities of the aluminates as a function of the NaF/AlF3 ratio in alumina-saturated melts at 1020 °C showed maxima at a molar ratio of around 5. The results are discussed in terms of the species apparently existing in the solution, and are consistent with the solute species being fluorides, not oxyfluorides. The activity coefficients of FeF2 (liquid) and NiF2 (solid) in dilute solution in cryolite are found to be 0.22 and 1.2, respectively.

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Author notes

  1. Trond E. Jentoftsen (Doctoral Student, Senior Engineer)

    Present address: Department of Materials Technology and Electrochemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway

  2. Odd-Arne Lorentsen (Doctoral Student, Senior Scientist)

    Present address: the Department of Materials Technology and Electrochemistry, NTNU, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hydro Aluminum AS, Technology Centre Årdal, NO-6882, Øvre Ardal, Norway

    Trond E. Jentoftsen (Doctoral Student, Senior Engineer)

  2. Norsk Hydro ASA, Research Centre, NO-3907, Porsgrunn, Norway

    Odd-Arne Lorentsen (Doctoral Student, Senior Scientist)

  3. 648 Pimlico Pl., K7M 5T8, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Ernest W. Dewing

  4. the Department of Materials Technology and Electrochemistry, NTNU, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway

    Geir M. Haarberg (Professor) & Jomar Thonstad (Professor)

Authors
  1. Trond E. Jentoftsen
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  2. Odd-Arne Lorentsen
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  3. Ernest W. Dewing
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  4. Geir M. Haarberg
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  5. Jomar Thonstad
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Jentoftsen, T.E., Lorentsen, OA., Dewing, E.W. et al. Solubility of some transition metal oxides in cryolite-alumina melts: Part I. Solubility of FeO, FeAl2O4, NiO, and NiAl2O4 . Metall Mater Trans B 33, 901–908 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-002-0073-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-002-0073-7

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