Characterization of Fluxed Iron Ore Pellets as Compared to Feed Material for Blast Furnace

The effect of lime addition in hematite iron ore pellets on its physico-chemical as well as mechanical properties with respect to blast furnace requirement was studied in a laboratory scale with varying basicity i.e. 0-2.0.Increasing addition lime produced more calcium-alumino-silicate phases (slag) as evidenced by SEMEDAX analysis. These phases have low melting points which enhances sticking behaviourof pellets, as well as imparting strength to the pellets (resulting increasing compressive strength, tumbler, abrasion and shatter index) and decreasing the porosity. The low basicity pellets were predominantly oxide-bonded, while high basicity pellets were mostly slag bonded. This means that pellets should be fired at sufficiently high enough temperature to generate liquid phases to get the sufficient strength but not so high as to cause pellets to stick. The properties of fluxed pellets were compared with the properties of iron ore lump and pellets, which are being used in blast furnace for production of iron and steel