Evaluation of the Diffraction Pattern Change from Zircon Sand High Temperature Heating Product

One of the process stages in zircon ingot production is zircon sand melting to get zircon free from its silicate compounds. The melting process is conducted by heating up in an electric arc furnace. The arc is affected by electron excitation in the air as it travels through the air to the zircon sand raw materials. Zircon sand is mixed with carbon heated in the furnace at the voltage of 26 volts and the current of 70 amperes. The distance from the electrode to the raw materials is adjusted so that arc is produced. The heat energy generated by the arc is used for melting the sand. From the experiment it is identified that N2 gas affected a good arc flame which occurs longer, but the sample sand will be blown under high gas flow. X ray diffraction analysis shows that ZrC is already produced in a very low intensity. The observed diffraction pattern intensity changes due to the gas flow. The highest intensity is reached at 30 minutes heating with N2 gas flow of 18.75 ml/sec, which gives diffractogram pattern for ZrC at 2θ = 35° with the intensity of 175 cps and background of 45 cps. (author)