Strength and consolidation mechanism of iron ore and coal pellets

The consolidation mechanisms of green and metallised iron ore and coal pellets (ICPs) using four kinds of inorganic binders and four organic binders were studied. The strength of wet ICPs mainly depends on capillary force. However, that of preheated ICPs mainly depends on chemical adsorption, followed by viscous force. The metallised pellet strength can be controlled as per the growth and spread of the iron joined crystals, and the strength of the metallised pellets increases with the iron crystal area. The adhesive properties of phenolic resin as a binder are significantly better than those of other binders, and it does not affect ICP reduction. With 2% phenolic resin, the compressive strength and drop strength of preheated ICPs improved to 312.5 N and by 15.1 times respectively, whereas the metallisation degree and compressive strength of metallised ICPs improved to 92.56% and 3505 N respectively (at 1473 K).