LAUSR

Abstract To evaluate the applicability of B2O3 to the TiO2 slag process, its rheological properties and molten oxide structure were investigated in the FeO-TiO2-B2O3 system. The viscosity was measured from 1823 K to the liquidus temperature in the molten FeO-TiO2 system for varying B2O3 concentrations. The addition of B2O3 reduces the liquidus temperature and sudden increasing in the viscosity, implying there has been an enhancement of the energy efficiency and operational conditions. The viscosity estimated by classical molecular dynamics simulations was found to be in good agreement with the calculated value, indicating that present simulations are well suited for the design of FeO-TiO2 slag system. The investigation of the statistical structure by using the atomic configuration derived from MD simulations, was carried out to elucidate the effect of the molten oxide structure on the viscosity. The existence of borate and titanate structures was verified and the structural change was quantitatively evaluated.