ALUMINOTHERMIC OBTAINING OF IRON ALLOY AND CERAMIC USING MILL SCALE AS THE MAIN RAW MATERIAL

Abstract

Introduction:
Mill scale is an industrial waste generated during the hot rolling of steel, representing approximately 2 % of the produced steel. In Cuba, it is generated by companies like Antillana de Acero and Acinox Las Tunas and is currently underutilized.
Objective:
To obtain iron alloys and refractory ceramics through aluminothermic processing using lamination scale as the fundamental raw material.
Materials and Methods:
A McLean Anderson experimental design was used, varying the proportions of mill scale, aluminum chips, and limestone. Seven charges were prepared and processed in a graphite reactor to obtain the corresponding alloys and ceramics.
Results and Discussion:
The resulting alloys contained carbon (0.3 – 0.67 %), silicon (0.3 – 1.61 %), manganese (0.1 – 0.96 %), and aluminum (0.25 – 1.88 %), with a metal recovery rate of 73 – 91 %. The ceramics, composed mainly of aluminum and iron oxides, showed a recovery rate of 93 – 110 %.
Conclusions:
The results demonstrate the technical feasibility of the process. This method allows for obtaining iron alloys for industrial use and ceramics suitable for developing abrasive and refractory materials. The proposal represents a viable solution for valorizing this waste, contributing to environmental preservation.