Characterization of fluxed pellets produced from low silica specular hematite

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 85, No. 964, 1992

M. Rigaud, S.C. Panigrahy and B. Jena, Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec

The influence of flux addition on the structure and properties of pellets produced from low silica specularite with peat moss and bentonite as binders was investigated. Specific pellets basicities in the range of 0.4 to 3.2 were obtained by the addition of limestone or a combination of dolomite and limestone as flux. At basicities < 1.6, the bonding in the pellets was provided by a glassy silicate phase. At basicities > 1.6, calcium ferrites were the predominant bonding phase. When dolomite was added as a flux, presence of magnesio-ferrite was noted. The reduction behaviour of pellets at different basicities was found to be influenced by the type afflux and binder. The pellet compression strength and swelling characteristics were improved with increased basicity.

Keywords: Pellets, Fluxed pellets, Hematite, Specularite, Binders, Peat moss.