Dissolution behavior of chromite mineral impurities in raw materials of glass production using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometer, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy methods

Silica sand is an essential raw material for glass production. The specification of silica sand for each type of glass is the most important point, such as chemical purity, grain size, grain shape, and their impurities. Some of the impurities in the sand can be eliminated by processing yet some cannot be avoided. This paper indicates that as an impurity in the sand, chromite minerals dissolve in glass. 0.200 mm and 0.250 mm grain size chromite minerals were observed grain size change at 1350 °C − 1400 °C − 1450 °C. With increasing in temperature, the rate of size change in the grain diameter increased. Because of the chemical composition of chromite mineral, with increasing temperature, first of all, aluminum and magnesium content start to dissolve in soda lime silicate glass. Then, chromium content transforms into chromium oxide. The transformation rate depends on the mineral composition as well as the temperature and the residence time in the furnace. This paper concerns the chemical composition of the chromite by scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectrometer, the compositions of the raw material analyzed with X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer and chromite characteristics analyzed by Raman Spectroscopy methods.