Applicability of gold tailings, waste limestone, red mud, and ferronickel slag for producing glass fibers

Increasing concerns about environmental issues have led to more attention being paid to the recycling of mining wastes and smelting byproducts. In the present study, the utilization of gold tailings, waste limestone, red mud, and ferronickel slag was investigated for producing continuous glass fibers. To verify the applicability of the down-drawing process, the viscosity of the present mixture was measured in the molten state at a high temperature. The viscosity in the low temperature range was estimated using the Mauro-Yue-Ellison-Gupta-Allan equation. Compared to other commercially used basalt fiber systems, a similar fiber-forming temperature in the range of 1466 K-1503K with viscosities ranging from log 2.5 to log 3.0 dPas, was observed, which indicates the applicability of the down-drawing process. Measurements of the tensile strength and the Young's modulus of a single filament were carried out following standard test methods. In spite of the thick diameter of the present filament, the fiber produced in the present study exhibited a Young's modulus of 60 GPa-80 GPa, which was found similar to those of other commercial fibers. It is expected that a higher tensile strength will be achieved by reducing the diameter of the filament lower than 10 Ism by increasing the drawing speed. Therefore, utilization of the present mixture; mining wastes and smelting byproducts, is feasible for producing continuous glass fibers. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.