Effect of silica on crystallization process of calcium ferrite: thermodynamic and kinetic analysis

SiO2 is the main component of gangue in sinters and a crucial constituent in the formation of the SiO2–Fe2O3–CaO (SFC) system. The non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of the SFC system were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. The crystallization process of SFC was studied under different cooling rates (5, 10, 15, and 20 K/min), and the crystalline phases and microstructures of the SFC crystals were verified through X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that when the SiO2 content is 2 wt.