A review of the physical properties of base metal mattes

Abstract

This paper reviews the development and suitability of various important thermophysical and electrical properties with respect to base metal mattes. Areas of focus include the critical validation ofmeasurements of viscosity, density, surface and interfacial tension, electrical conductivity, and an overview of the various experimental methods used to determine these properties. Accurate physicalproperty data of mattes are critical in process modelling and computational fluid dynamic modelling of smelting and converting operations employed in the extraction of copper, nickel, cobalt andplatinum group metals.