The ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgical industries have been utilising slags, fluxes and mattes for
process optimisation and quality improvements at high temperatures. Understanding the
fundamentals of the thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical metallurgy regarding slags, fluxes and
mattes has been essential to the technological developments of these optimisation and
improvements. This work will discuss how these fundamentals have been studied in the reactions
involved and implemented in the ferrous industry from primary refining to continuous casting. In
particular, the chemical driving forces that allow these reactions to take place and the limitations of
the kinetics that require optimisation to enhance the reactions. In addition, the future research
direction for slag technology innovation and the role of these fundamentals will also be described.