The Cu-Ni-S System and Its Significance in Metallurgical Processes

Due to increasing complexities of raw materials for base metals production the conventional pyrometallurgical processes are challenged. To make the appropriate modifications, thorough evaluations of the thermal stabilities of phases and phase assemblages which are commonly encountered in these processes are essential. In this work, phase relations and thermal stabilities of equilibrium phases in the Cu-Ni-S system have been reviewed. The calculated phase diagram of Cu-N system has been validated. At T > 630 K, in the N-rich corner, large scatter in data has been observed and discussed in detail. The other binary systems, Cu-S and Ni-S, have been also critically reviewed together with the ternary Cu-N-S system. The reviews were focused on compiling and discussing phase relations and thermal stabilities of the selected systems in the pyrometallurgical processes of Cu and N productions.