Interaction between SiO2 and a KF-KCl-K2SiF6 Melt.

The solubility mechanism of silica in a fluoride-chloride melt has been determined in situ using Raman spectroscopy. The spectroscopy data revealed that the silica solubility process involved Si-O bond breakage and Si-F bond formation. The process results in the formation of silicate complexes, fluorine-bearing silicate complexes, and silicon tetrafluoride in the melt.