US Egypt Cooperative Research: Preparation of high-aspect ratio wollastonite using recycled material

这一合作研究项目由犹他州大学的H.Y.Sohn博士和埃及中央冶金研究开发研究所的Suzan S.Ibrahim博士共同开展，旨在研究在合成硅灰石(一种硅酸钙矿物)的生产中如何利用回收渣等各种废原料，并找到最佳的助熔剂、温度和粒度条件。这项研究包括(1)改进原材料以去除不需要的成分，(2)开发硅灰石生产工艺(烧结)和(3)对所得产品进行评估。硅灰石具有独特的性质，使其成为替代石棉的重要候选绝缘材料，此外，它还用于陶瓷、玻璃、涂料、冶金、焊接和造纸等不同行业。这一及时的提案解决了日益减少的天然硅灰石供应和工业应用对高纯度合成硅灰石的需求。它的合成是一个相对简单的过程，包括升级原材料以去除不需要的成分，然后烧结或加热到合适的温度。各种废旧原料可以作为合成硅灰石的起点。如果成功，这一研究项目应该会立即产生经济影响，使废物得到有益的利用，并提供一种以实际成本供应合成硅灰石的手段。美国和埃及参与者之间的合作是这项研究的一个重要方面，研究生将参与这一努力。业界的参与将加强这项研究的适用性，并可能产生显著的环境效益。该项目由美国-埃及联合基金计划资助，该计划为两国的科学家和工程师进行合作研究提供赠款。

This collaborative research project is being undertaken by Dr. H.Y. Sohn, University of Utah, and Dr. Suzan S. Ibrahim, Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute of Egypt to investigate the use of various waste raw materials such as recycled slag in the production of synthetic wollastonite (a calcium silicate mineral) and to find the optimum conditions of flux, temperature, and particle size. The research entails (1) upgrading the raw material to remove unwanted components, (2) developing the wollastonite production process (sintering) and (3) evaluating the resulting product.Wollastonite has unique properties, making it an important candidate to be used as an insulating material to replace asbestos in addition to its usage in different industries such as ceramics, glass, coatings, metallurgical, welding, and paper. This timely proposal addresses dwindling supplies of natural wollastonite and the need for synthetic wollastonite of high purity for industrial application. Its synthesis is a relatively simple process, involving upgrading of raw materials to remove unwanted components and then sintering, or heating, to an appropriate temperature. Various waste materials can be used as the starting point for wollastonite synthesis. If successful, this research project should have immediate economic impact in allowing waste materials to be used beneficially and in providing a means to supply synthetic wollastonite at a practicable cost. The collaboration between US and Egyptian participants is an important aspect of this research, and graduate students will participate in the effort. Industry involvement will strengthen the applicability of the research, and notable environmental benefits may result.The project is funded under the US-Egypt Joint Fund Program, which provides grants to scientists and engineers in both countries to undertake cooperative research.