A new technological approach to the granulation of slag melts of ferrous metallurgy: obtaining glassy fine-grained granules of improved quality

Abstract

AbstractThe technological factors required to improve the operational properties of granulated metallurgical slags demanded in the building industry have been analyzed. In order to satisfy these factors, a new technology for hydro-vacuum granulation of slag melts (HVG) has been developed. It is shown that the main advantage of the proposed HVG process is the provision of forced high-speed vortex convection of water, with the effect of vertical suction, crushing, and degassing of the three-phase (water–slag granules–water vapor) heterogeneous medium formed during the overcooling and solidification of slag. It is proved that the high-speed volumetric disintegration and overcooling with the degassing effect sharply reduces a degree of aggressive gas/vapor impact on the being cooled particles of slag, which, in turn, leads to the reduction of the perforation degree of the granules. The obtained granules are distinguished by stable fractionation and improved, well-defined dense amorphous glassy structure, the water-holding capacity of which has reduced from 45–50% to 25–13%, the actual moisture content from 24–20% to 6–4%, while the hydraulic activity in terms of CaO-uptake increased from the conventional 320–360 mg/g to 610–650 mg/g. Pilot scale research demonstrated that the designed equipment for the HVG technology allows sustainable control of the quality of granules, and it has the potential for further development and implementation.