Phase transformations of a talc ore under heated chlorine atmosphere

PABLO OROSCO; MARÍA DEL C. RUIZ; JORGE A. GONZÁLEZ

THERMOCHIMICA ACTA

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2013 vol. 54 p. 15 - 24

0040-6031

The effect of Cl2 on the phase transformations of the minerals present in a talc (Mg3.Si4.O10.(OH)2)unpurified with clinochlore (Mg5.Al2.Si3.O10.(OH)8), magnesite (MgCO3), dolomite (MgCa(CO3)2), hematite(Fe2O3) and pyrite (FeS2) was studied with the purpose of deferricating the mineral and obtaining protoenstatite(MgSiO3), which is the basic component of steatite ceramics. Isothermal and non-isothermal assays in N2 and Cl2-N2 atmospheres were performed using a thermogravimetric device at temperaturesbetween 600 and 980°C.  The reagents and the products were analyzed by differential thermal analysis(DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electronprobe microanalysis (EPMA). Results obtained showed that the following phenomena were producedin Cl2: (a) The transformation of vitreous silica (SiO2), from the chlorination reaction of talc, into enstatite(MgSiO3) started at about 700 °C, being dolomite the mineral that favored this reaction. At 800 °C, moreenstatite was formed as a result of the reaction between vitreous silica not transformed, MgCl2 and O2derived from the chlorination of dolomite and magnesite; then, polymorphic transformation of enstatiteinto protoenstatite was produced. (b) At about 950 °C, CaCl2 produced as a result of dolomite chlorinationled to the destruction of the protoenstatite structure, and to the subsequent formation of cristobalite, withrelease of O2 and gaseous MgCl2. (c) The elimination of iron as FeCl3(g) takes place in all the temperatureinterval investigated. The most favorable chlorination temperature was 900°C, since protoenstatitestructure was destroyed at higher temperatures and an efficient elimination of iron present in the talcsample was not possible at lower temperatures.