Composition and structure of the shells of aluminosilicate microspheres in fly ash formed on the combustion of Ekibastuz coal

Abstract

A systematic study of the chemical and phase composition and structure of the shells of narrow fractions of nonmagnetic cenospheres separated from a concentrate of fly ash cenospheres from the combustion of pulverized SS (weakly caking coal) coal from the Ekibastuz Basin was carried out. It was found that the separated narrow fractions were characterized by a high Al₂O₃ content of 33–38 wt %. The phase composition included 57–73 wt % vitreous phase, 25–40 wt % mullite, and 1.2–2.5 wt % quartz. An increase in the average diameter, thickness, and porosity of the glass-crystalline shell of globules with the concentration of aluminum was observed. Globules of the following two types were identified in the obtained fractions: spherical globules with an annular structure and foamy globules with a network structure formed from different illite and kaolinite mineral precursors, respectively.