Tin Smelting for particles size 10um~60um

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robertloo65
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

12 years ago

Hi, I wish to know can someone here answer me whether a tin smelting ( larger scale : 1000kgs ) with particle size of 10um ~ 60um is possible or not ?

Note: um = microns

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Roy Morton
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

I've managed it with stuff from grit down to dust with no problems or special treatments. Just make sure you mix a goodly amount of carbon in with the charge. Barbecue charcoal works but crushed activated charcoal prills such as they use in aquarium water treatment, seem to work very well indeed. Top off the crucible with a nice thick layer of carbon too, half an inch is plenty.
Take lots of pitures and post them on here 🙂 there's always lots of interest in home brew metal winning :thumbup:

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robertloo65
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

12 years ago

Roy, thanks for your information ! :thumbsup:

AR
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

Just a thought, but would pelletising it be viable?

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geoff
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

That's a good idea AR, the finer the concentrate the more likely it is to leave the furnace along with the gas.

@robertloo65 what on earth have you done to it to make it that small 😮

robertloo65
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

12 years ago

I don't know either ... :confused:
As this is the materials we are going to buy for smelting and we wanted to know how it is viable as the particle size is too small.

geoff, did you have any experiences would the 10um~60um tin concentrate leave the furnace along with the gas and make smelting almost not possible ? 😢

geoff
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

My own smelting experience relates to coarse or table recovered product. Some material will exit the furnace without being reduced, so at the size you describe losses are going to be very much greater.

At that particle size I'd also be concerned about the tin content of the concentrate, but then that's something to be considered with all tin smelting. It would be a good idea to get a 1kg sample and give it a try.

robertloo65
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

12 years ago

I'm going to have samples and test it out! 😉