This data sheet demonstrates accurate elemental analysis of NaO, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, S, K2O, CaO, TiO2, MnO and Fe in slag samples.
Slag plays an important role as raw material in the cement and construction industry. In the cement industry it is used to reduce the amount of the expensive clinker component needed. XRF with its simple sample preparation and easy calibration maintenance is well suited to monitor slag compositions.
This data sheet demonstrates accurate elemental analysis of NaO, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, S, K2O, CaO, TiO2, MnO and Fe
in slag samples.
Slag is a byproduct of the iron and steel making processes. It is formed during the fluxing process used to remove the non-ferrous constituents of the blast furnace charge. Slag plays an important role as raw material in the cement and construction industry. In the cement industry it is used to reduce the amount of the expensive clinker component needed. XRF with its simple sample preparation and easy calibration maintenance is well suited to monitor slag compositions.
Measurements were performed using the Malvern Panalytical Metals edition of Zetium, a fully integrated wavelength dispersive XRF spectrometer, complete with a X-Y sample handler and state-of-the-art software. It is engineered for excellence in terms of analytical and operational performance.
Configuration setup:
| X-ray tube | Rhodium anode 4 kW SST-mAX tube |
| Tube power | 60 kV/66 mA |
| Goniometer | Si, AI, Ca, Fe, Mg, S, Mn, Ti, V, P, Cr, Na, K |
| Medium | Vacuum |
| Shielding plate | 37 mm |
| Sample holder | Stainless steel 37 mm aperture |
Twelve commercially available blast furnace slag reference materials were used to set up a pressed pellet calibration. 10 grams of slag material were mixed to 1 gram of wax (binder) to make pressed pellets of 40 mm in diameter, pressing at 20 tons for 30 seconds.
Pressed pellets were loaded on the Metals edition of Zetium by using standard sample holders and measured to determine the concentration of Na2O, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, S, K2O, CaO, TiO2, MnO and Fe in slag samples. Each sample was analyzed for a total time of 222 seconds (roughly 4 minutes), measuring at the peak and background positions, see Table 1
Table 1. Application measurement time (in seconds)
Calibration plots for SiO2, Na2O, CaO and Fe are reported in Figures 1-4 and show the good correlation between certified concentrations and the measured intensities. Table 2 presents the RMS and lower limits of detection (LLD) of the individual element calibrations. Due to the influence of mineralogy and particle size on the accuracy of the analysis, the pressed powder pellet method of sample preparation is best suited when the calibration standards and the routine samples have the same characteristics and can be deemed ‘in-type’. As commercial reference materials were used, the quality of calibration can be further improved by using ‘in-type’ standards.
Table 2. RMS value for the pressed pellet calibration for slag analysis
Figure 1. Calibration line for SiO2
Figure 2. Calibration line for Na2O
Figure 3. Calibration line for CaO
Figure 4. Calibration line for Fe
Table 3. Analytical precision for sample BFS 3210
This study shows the capability of Malvern Panalytical's Metals edition of Zetium to analyze iron blast furnace slag samples as pressed pellets. The accuracy of results for major and minor elements - including Na content - makes the Metals edition of Zetium highly suitable for process control in the ferrous metal production.
