Characterization of calcium aluminate flux containing MgO for steel refining

炼钢作业使用各种熔剂来处理铁水和钢水，以达到产品规格。传统上，这种助熔剂中使用的是氟化钙。然而，由于其对环境的有害影响，替代材料正被更广泛地使用。处理钢的有效助熔剂是铝酸钙。这种通量通常是从地球矿物中产生的，从亚洲进口到北美。Scepter Inc.正在与METKEM Innovation Inc.合作开发一种类似或更好的助熔剂，该助熔剂不使用地球矿物，而是使用铝工业的废物和副产品。为了评价该助熔剂的熔化性能，并研究某些添加剂对改善其性能的影响，提出了目前的合作研究。如果成功实施，这项研究的长期成果将是：(A)通过消除氟化钙来减少钢铁处理对环境的影响，(B)通过利用铝生产的废料减少铝生产的环境足迹，以及(C)在加拿大建立生产设施，这可能会带来就业和财富创造。

Steelmaking operations use a variety of fluxes to treat liquid iron and steel for achieving the product specifications. Traditionally, calcium fluoride has been used in such fluxes. However, due to its detrimental environmental effect, substitute materials are being more commonly used. An effective flux in treating steel is calcium aluminate. This flux is usually produced from earth minerals and is imported to North America from Asia. SCEPTER Inc. is working with METKEM Innovation Inc. to develop a similar or superior flux, using not earth minerals, but rather waste and by-products from the aluminum industry. To evaluate the melting properties of this flux, and investigate the effect of some additions for improving its performance, the present collaborative research has been proposed. The long term outcomes of the research, if successfully implemented will be (a) reducing the environmental impact of steel treatment by eliminating calcium fluoride, (b) reducing the environmental footprint of aluminum production, by using its waste materials, and (c) establishing production facilities in Canada, that could result in job and wealth creation.