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| High-value utilization of bulk copper tailings: preparation of high-performance glass-ceramics |
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Received:June 06, 2025
Revised:July 10, 2025
Accepted:September 05, 2025
Published Online:April 30, 2026
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| DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1005-7854.2026.02.022 |
| KeyWord:copper tailings;melting method;glass-ceramics;crystallization temperature;compressive strength;xonotlite |
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| Jiangxi JCC Environmental Resources Technology Co Ltd, Shangrao 334100, Jiangxi, China |
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| Abstract: |
| To explore high-value utilization pathways for bulk copper tailing resources, this study prepared CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 (CAS) system glass-ceramics via the melting method, using copper tailings from a beneficiation plant in Jiangxi Province as the main raw material and CaF2 as the nucleating agent. The nucleation and crystallization temperatures of the base glass were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The effects of CaF2 content (mass fraction, same below), copper tailings content, and crystallization temperature on the crystalline phase composition, microstructure, and properties of the glass-ceramics were systematically investigated. The phase composition and microstructure of the materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Key properties, including compressive strength, flexural strength, water absorption, and density, were tested. The results indicate that CaF2 acts as an effective nucleating agent. When its content increases to 7%, the crystallization mechanism of the glass-ceramics shifts from surface crystallization to bulk crystallization. The internal crystal structure becomes significantly refined and densified, leading to an increase in compressive strength. Under optimized process parameters (copper tailings content of 50%, crystallization temperature of 950 ℃), glass-ceramics with xonotlite (Ca6Si6O17(OH)2) as the primary crystalline phase were obtained, exhibiting optimal comprehensive performance: a compressive strength of 124.56 MPa, a flexural strength of 55.91 MPa, a water absorption rate of only 0.004%, and a density of 2.79. No heavy metal ions were detected in the prepared glass-ceramics, meeting the requirements for environmental protection and building material applications. This research provides a theoretical basis and a feasible technical solution for the large-scale, high-value-added resource utilization of copper tailings, offering both environmental and economic benefits. |
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