On the role of boron-containing materials in metallurgical processes

The objective is to structure information on the use of boron and its compounds in metallurgical processes. The analysis of data on the role of boron-containing materials (pure boric anhydride, colemanite, waste from the production of boron-containing glass, sodium tetraborate) in various processes for obtaining metals is carried out based on a review of domestic and foreign scientific literature. A wide range of information on the use of boric anhydride in ferrous metallurgy is analyzed: preparation of agglomerated charge for blast furnace smelting, smelting of cast iron, steel, various ferroalloys, technical silicon. It is shown that quite a wealth of experience in the use of borate fluxes in technological processes of ferrous metallurgy has been acquired, in particular, by researchers from the Institute of Metallurgy of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia) and the Chemical-Metallurgical Institute named after Zh. Abishev (Republic of Kazakhstan). It is shown that with all the diversity of applications of boron-containing materials, the main thing remains unchanged: a positive technological effect based on the ability of boron-containing fluxes to reduce the melting point of oxide systems and increase the fluidity of slags formed in various pyrometallurgical processes. The use of boron in such processes increases their efficiency, which corresponds to the development strategy of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy in Russia for the period 2014-2022 and for the future up to 2030.