Laboratory profiled research areas are: studying physical and chemical bases of the primary extraction of metals from ores, estimating metallurgical properties of metallic and non-metallic materials, refining technological schemes of recycling (pelletizing, sintering, briquetting, obtaining alloys), and their technical and economic analysis, attractiveness for investments. As well as caring out technological audit for existing metallurgical facilities, industrial testing, development of technological regulations, design data release.

Main research topics:

• Thermodynamics of phase equilibrium with the primary use of imperfect models (Thermo-calc program, etc.). In particular, computer modeling of metallurgical thermodynamic processes for predicting equilibrium distribution of forms and elements, taking into consideration the chemical composition of the feedstock and the conditions of the process. Searching for the condition of the focused concentration of elements related to the individual products of the process with a view to their subsequent recovery;
• The study of physicochemical properties (viscosity, density, surface and interfacial tension, conductivity) of multicomponent oxide melts;
• Comprehensive assessment of the quality of the raw materials and the development of technologies for their subsequent metallurgical treatment and processing, search and use of new sources of raw material of ferrous metals; production organization of qualitatively new ferroalloys on a scientific basis and taking into account market demand;
• Drafting and implementation of recycling programs of technogenic formations existing in the region, considering solutions for environmental problems;
• The establishment of rational operating modes of electric heaters considering physical and chemical properties and changes in the composition of recyclable materials;
• Development of new technology for obtaining high-purity manganese through targeted search for optimal combination of fundamental research and different methods of its refining;
• Search for products, technologies and projects at the request of the customer at home and abroad, Expert evaluation of materials and energy costs, the consumption of materials and energy; preparation of analytical materials on scientific and technical problems in the field of metallurgy;
• Elaborating general national program of industry development while defining priorities and allocating steps of implementation. Development of enterprise restructuring program of metallurgical complex, new pre-construction documentation and technology;
• Development of normative documents and standards;
• Creation of a single information sphere in the field of metallurgy. Marketing, research of market conjuncture and analysis of its development.

Particularly valuable results:

• The results of mathematical modeling of physical and chemical properties of multicomponent oxide melts were presented at many international conferences and were included in thematic collections, trade journals and monographs published by individual authors.
• The processes of heat treatment of all types of industrial raw material deposits of Chiatura were studied in the laboratory using modern methods of research (1. Д.В.Мосия, Сигуа Т.И., Загю Т.Н., Сванидзе Л.К. Термический анализ марганцеворудных материалов. Изд. «Мецниереба», 1979. 2. Сигуа Т.И., Перова В.В. Агломерация марганцевого сырья. Изд. «Мецниереба», 1992), technological modes both separately and in combination. Accumulating evidence formed the basis of the project of construction of the sinter plant Zestaponi Ferroalloy Plant, the implementation of which in 1979 created the preconditions filling furnace electric furnace fleet capacity of 75 MVA Japanese company "Tanabe".
• Pelletizing technology of fine-grained concentrates obtained by chemical processing was first developed in the laboratory and tested in the industrial conditions;
• Technology of reductive roasting of fine-grained manganese concentrates developed in the laboratory formed the basis for plant reconstruction project of manganese metal Zestaponi Ferroalloy Plant, which was developed together with Ukrainian colleagues;
• The possibility of obtaining super-rich (68-69,5% Fe) concentrate from Dashkesan commodity iron ore concentrates were established, physical and chemical bases of oxidation-reduction roasting and reinforcing green pellets derived from it. The complete cycle of obtaining pre reduced pellets (Midrex-process) is modeled in the laboratory and in industrial applications in the plating shop Oskol Electric Steel Works. A comparative analysis and conclusions about the possibility of its implementation at the Rustavi Metallurgical Plant.

 
Prereduced pellets

• On the basis of theoretical and experimental data of many years, the analysis of national standards of different countries and considering the state of the manganese raw material bases, standards have been developed in the laboratory: ferromanganese - the brand and specifications (GOST 4755 and GOST 4755-80) silikomanganese- the brand and specifications (GOST 4756 and GOST 4756-80), iron manganese (GOST 6008-75), in the quality control of ferromanganese and silicomanganese (according to GOST 20517-75 and GOST 20518-75), in the method for the determination of particle size distribution (GOST 22310-77).
• The international standard on the metal nitride and metal manganese - the brand and specifications (ST SEV 497-77) were also developed and implemented in the laboratory. According to the program of the technical committee of the international organization for Standardization (ISO) laboratory, staff conducted research on the quality control of manganese ferroalloys and presented to the customer international standard- ferromanganese; silicomanganese - sampling.

State standards for silicomanganese

The laboratory of highly skilled scientists and experts in various fields of science and technology, advanced experimental facilities and developed techniques that make it possible to simulate the physical, chemical and gas-dynamic processes occurring in virtually all areas of metallurgical unit, determine the behavior of metallurgical raw materials in concrete conditions with regard to the created conjuncture of its supply, to clarify the properties of the materials obtained and used for issuing the relevant certificates.