Influence of FeO and AlO Contents on the Thermal Stability of Iron Ore-Waste Fibers: Key Mechanisms and Control.

Traditional rock wool fibres are susceptible to crystallization and pulverization. To mitigate this, glass fibres were produced from iron ore waste (IOW). When the ratio of Fe and Fe is 1:3 and the AlO content is 10 wt.%, increasing the FeO content enhances the thermal stability.At an FeO content of 17-19% and an AlO content of 10-13%, the glass transition temperature (Tg) peaked. Increasing the FeO content from 10% to 20% enhanced the stability of Si-O and Al-O bonds and increased bridged oxygen, stabilizing the structure. Here, Fe balances structural charges, while Fe replaces some Al atoms in the network. When the AlO content is 10-13% and the FeO content is 17-19%, the thermal stability of the IOW rock glass reaches its optimal level. At 20% FeO content, the structure becomes three-dimensional and cyclic, increasing polymerization. Consequently, incorporating FeO alongside a 10% AlO content improves thermal stability, supporting the development of high-stability rock wool from IOW. This approach also enhances the refractory properties of rock wool fibres within the FeO-AlO-SiO-MgO-CaO system.