Study of Softening and Melting Behaviour of Iron Ore Sinter and Pellets

Softening and melting behaviour of the iron ore materials was studied towards understanding the mechanism of formation of liquid slag and metal phases in the pre-reduced sinter and pellets. Wide range of the sinter and pellets samples was investigated revealing the effect of gangue amount and composition on temperature indices corresponding to gas permeability loss in the bed (T-1) and to the largest portion of liquid products dripping (T-2). For both sinter and pellets, the growth of bacisity is followed by T-1 increase which is explained by raised temperature of primary liquid phase appearance during the heating-reduction treatment. Relationship of T-2 with the bacisity corresponds to the basicity effect on slag liquidus temperature. Both slag and metal phases were only partially evacuated from the crucible with essential portions of both phases captured in the coke bed. Growing divergence of the basicities of effluent slag and of slag captured in crucible was observed with the increase of sinter basicity. Increased share of the effluent metal with the sinter bacisity growth is explained by the decreased adhesion of slag to iron surface which assists carburization. Growth of melt-down temperature with the increase of gangue amount is explained by less active carburization owing to larger quantity of slag minimising direct contact of sponge with carbonaceous materials.