Elucidation of the Improved Ash Fusion Test

The aim of the project was to understand the processes that produced the response observed in the Improved Ash Fusion test (IAFT).  The initial objective of the project was to determine that the changes observed in the improved Ash Fusion test were relatable to known mineralogical changes in the ashes.   The second objective of the project was to determine the response of the Improved Ash Fusion test to known melt proportions in synthesised binary ashes. Blend series of refractory minerals and minerals that exhibited a phase change were tested.  The third objective was to determine if incongruent melting (i.e. the chemical fractionation of the melt and the solids with increasing temperature) was occurring in the ashes.