Experimental Investigation of Gas/Matte/Spinel Equilibria in the Cu-Fe-O-S System at 1473 K (1200 °C) and P(SO2) = 0.25 atm

The Cu-Fe-O-S system is the key system for the characterisation of the phase chemistry in high-temperature copper making processes. An experimental study was undertaken to investigate the gas/matte/spinel equilibria in the Cu-Fe-O-S system at 1473 K (1200 °C), P(SO2) = 0.25 atm, and a range of oxygen partial pressures. The experimental methodology involved high temperature equilibration using a primary phase substrate technique in controlled gas atmospheres (CO/CO2/SO2/Ar), rapid quenching of the equilibrated phases, followed by direct measurement of phase compositions using electron probe x-ray microanalysis. Particular attention was given to the analysis of reactions during equilibration and confirmation of the achievement of equilibrium in the present study. The new data provide important information for understanding of the gas/matte/spinel interactions at high temperature and provide an essential foundation for the development of the multicomponent thermodynamic database for copper-containing systems.