Evaluation of surface tension of Ce-bearing slag based on calcium aluminate system

The surface tension of the Ce-bearing calcium aluminate slag was studied by the modified Butler's equation. By taking the slag structure into account, the parameter related to AlO4-tetrahedron has been modified, imparting the model with good reproducibility. Ce2O3 and Li2O were surfactants. Ce2O3 can decrease the surface tension because of the decrease in the total ion moment of the slag and the weaker interactions between Ce3+ and O2−. Li+ had the weakest ionic potential, and increasing Li2O content decreased the total ion moment, which led to the decrease in the surface tension. The dissociated Ca2+ ions showed stronger absorption of the anions in the surface, so the surface tension increased with increasing the content of CaO. Increasing the value of w(CaO)/w(Al2O3) decreased the surface tension, because of the decrease in the total polymerised anions in the slag and the increase in the total ion moment.