АР19177929 “Study of the application of borate ores in the technology of production of technical silicon with the formation of boron-containing oxide systems under oxidizing and reducing conditions”

In the process of producing technical silicon in electric arc furnaces, problems associated with the formation of refractory slags of various origins arise. Slags block the taphole and prevent the release of liquid smelting products. Part of the problem is due to the fact that the charge materials used contain oxide impurities that form refractory slag. Often this problem is caused by the human factor and non-compliance with the standards of the technological process of silicon smelting. At the same time, it is very difficult to get the furnace out of this state. This is a long process accompanied by significant economic losses.

To quickly eliminate the problem of slagging of the taphole, fluxes are used in production practice, which contribute to the fastest liquefaction and removal of refractory slags from the furnace. Materials containing oxides of calcium, magnesium and boron, as well as salt systems, are used as fluxes. In this case, a secondary problem of contamination of the silicon melt with these elements arises. Boron especially reduces the quality of the resulting silicon. Boron oxide provides the most effective solution to the slagging problem

1) Ilin Alexandr Alexandrovich – Researcher at KarIU. Project manager.

Scopus ID:.58968587400

https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8167-9640

2) Nemchinova Nina Vladimirovna – Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Non-Ferrous Metallurgy, Scientific Consultant.

Scopus ID: 9249617200

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9895-1709

The results of the study are promising in terms of improving the technological process of technical silicon production in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The social and economic effect of the project implementation will be significant: for the first time, the distribution of boron between silicon and binary slags CaO-SiO₂ and MgO-SiO₂ with boron oxide additives, as well as between silicon and ternary slags CaO-MgO-SiO₂ and CaO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ at the temperature of the technological fluidity of the final slags of smelting technical silicon with various levels of contamination with impurities will be studied. A mechanism for the reaction of boron removal under these conditions will be developed. In this regard, the results of the study will provide great progress for the development of technical silicon production in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The scientific and technical efficiency of the project is aimed at solving the national project of the Republic of Kazakhstan “Technological breakthrough through digitalization, science and innovation” and improving the production of technical silicon. All results of scientific research will be disseminated at international conferences, symposia, various international technology exhibitions, publication of articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals on the scientific direction of the project and domestic publications recommended by KOKSON or equivalent publications. Based on the results of research work, the possibilities of patenting the obtained data in the Kazakhstan or Eurasian Patent Bureau are considered

1. According to the calendar plan, there were a sufficient number of experimental research methods for the implementation of the study of the viscosity characteristics of slags and slag liquefaction methods.

The study of the viscosity characteristics of slags and slag liquefaction methods was carried out. Much attention was paid to one of the most significant properties of slags – viscosity and heterogeneity.

1.1 According to the calendar plan, to model the correlation between the viscosity distribution and the basicity of slags, it was necessary to study the viscosity characteristics of slags and slag liquefaction methods.

1.2 To model the correlation between the viscosity distribution and the basicity of slags, the main processes of depolymerization of silicate networks in the CaO-SiO₂-В₂О₃, MgO-SiO₂-В₂О₃ system were studied. It was found that boron oxide additives to the slags of the system under study expand the range of slag compositions with low temperature crystallization and viscosity. 1.3 To model the correlation between the viscosity distribution and the basicity of slags, it was necessary to study the processes of depolymerization of silicate networks. In fact, to model the correlation between the viscosity distribution and the basicity of slags, the main processes of depolymerization of silicate networks in the CaO-SiO₂-В₂О₃, MgO-SiO₂-В₂О₃ system were studied. 1 article was published in a journal on the scientific direction of the project, in the Q1-Q3 quartiles by impact factor in the Web of Science database and (or) having a percentile by CiteScore in the Scopus database of at least 50 (fifty).