Structural-Phase States of Iron-Based Alloys Produced by Aluminothermic Reduction Smelting of Ta–W Waste
摘要
The paper presents the results of aluminothermic extraction of refractory rare metals from Ta–W cakes formed as a result of acid leaching of rhenium from oxide-metal wastes. A series of melts at temperatures of 1550 and 1700 °C with different consumption of reducing agent (Al), calcium, and iron oxides was carried out. Alloys containing, by weight %, 37.7–56.0 Fe, 9.6–19.8 Ta, 15.2–23.6 W, 4.5–6.4 Mo, 3.0–8.9 Al, 1.6–2.7 Ti, 1.8–3.3 Cr, 2.2–3.0 Ni, 0.3–1.3 Zr, and 0.10–0.25 C in which the target metals are concentrated are obtained. The semi-empirical properties and phase formation criteria were calculated using the HEAPS software package, and the mechanical properties of the obtained alloys were evaluated. The predicted data on the composition of phase melting products agree with the results of XRD and SEM: the main alloys are disordered solid solutions of variable composition based on the Laves phase [Fe2TaxW1-x]ss, and based on the Fe3Alss phase forming a dendritic microstructure with single inclusions of (βTi, Ta)ss. The microhardness of the phase components of the alloy was measured, reaching average values: for [Fe2TaxW1-x]ss – 880, for Fe3Alss – 590, and for (βTi, Ta)ss – 2070 HV0.1. The results of the study revealed new technological aspects of producing alloys suitable to replace part of standard ferroalloys in the manufacturing of steels without strict limitations on impurities, using technogenic wastes.
Graphical Abstract