Experimental study of phase equilibria in the systems Fe-Zn-O and Fe-Zn-Si-O at metallic iron saturation

The reported experimental work on the systems Fe-Zn-O and Fe-Zn-Si-O in equilibrium with metallic iron is part of a wider research program that combines experimental and thermodynamic computer modeling techniques to characterize zinc/lead industrial slags and sinters in the system PbO-ZnO-SiO₂-CaO-FeO-Fe₂O₃. Extensive experimental investigations using high-temperature equilibration and quenching techniques followed by electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA) were carried out. Special experimental procedures were developed to enable accurate measurements in these ZnO-containing systems to be performed in equilibrium with metallic iron. The systems Fe-Zn-O and Fe-Zn-Si-O were experimentally investigated in equilibrium with metallic iron in the temperature ranges 900 °C to 1200 °C (1173 to 1473 K) and from 1000 °C to 1350 °C (1273 to 1623 K), respectively. The liquidus surface in the system Fe-Zn-Si-O in equilibrium with metallic iron was characterized in the composition ranges 0 to 33 wt pct ZnO and 0 to 40 wt pct SiO₂. The wustite (Fe,Zn)O, zincite (Zn,Fe)O, willemite (Zn,Fe)₂SiO₄, and fayalite (Fe,Zn)₂SiO₄ solid solutions in equilibrium with metallic iron were measured.