Preparation of glass–ceramics from molten steel slag using liquid–liquid mixing method

A novel approach to prepare glass–ceramics from molten steel slag (MSS) was proposed. In laboratory, the water-quenched steel slag was melted at 1350 °C to simulate the MSS. A mixture of additive powders in wt.% (55 quartz powder, 5 Na2O, 16 emery powder, 15 CaO, 8 MgO, 1 TiO2) were melted into liquid at 1350 °C separately. Then the MSS and the molten additives were mixed homogeneously in order to obtain parent glass melt. The proportion of MSS in the melt was 50 wt.%. The melt was subsequently cast, annealed, heat-treated and transformed into glass–ceramics. Their microstructure and crystallization behavior were analyzed. The samples exhibited excellent properties and displayed bulk crystallization. The major crystallized phase was diopside ((Fe0.35Al0.20Mg0.44)Ca0.96(Fe0.08Si0.70Al0.20)2O6.12), which was uniformly distributed in the microstructure. The novel approach may help iron and steel industry achieve zero disposal of steel slag with utilization of the heat energy of the MSS.

► Glass–ceramics derived from molten steel slag was prepared.
► Liquid–liquid mixing method was used to adjust the components of molten steel slag.
► Both the material and heat energy in molten steel slag were utilized simultaneously.
► Economic benefit is significant due to reduction of raw material and energy.