Effect of AI_(2)O_(3)and MgO on crystallization and structure of Ca0-Si0_(2)-B_(2)0_(3)-based fluorine-free mold flux

The crytallization behavior and melt structure of the CaO-Si0^(2-)B20_(3)-based fluorine-free mold fux were investigated.The results show that the crytallization of the mold fux was first inhibited and then promoted with the increase in Al_(2)0_(3) content from 4 to 12 wt.%.However,it was enhanced by MgO in the range of 2-10 wt.%.The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy showed that Al_(2)0_(3) worked as a network former in the mold flux melt when its content was in the range of 4-8 wt.%,whereas it worked as the network breaker to provide 0^(2-)when its content was in the range of 8-12 wt.%.In addition,the combined efects from the charge compensation by Mg^(2+)and the network broken by 0^(2-)led to the increase in some typicalT-O-T(AI-O-A1,B-O-B,etc.,)and simpler structural units(Q^(2)(Si),B_^(O-)in the[B0_(2)0^(-)],.etc.)when the MgO content was in the range of 2-6 wt.%.The continuous increase in 0^(2-)provided by the addition of MgO from 6 to 10 wt.%further depolymerized the network of the melt and fnally caused fast crystallizationo.