Porosity, Mineralogy, Strength, and Reducibility of Sinter Analogues from the Fe2O3 (Fe3O4)-CaO-SiO2 (FCS) Ternary System

The presence of Ca-ferrite and silico-ferrite-of-calcium-and-aluminium (SFCA) bonding phases is thought to be crucial maintain sinter quality due their high reducibility strength levels. However, new evidence suggests that porosity might an equally important factor controlling reducibility, in addition mineralogy. This work aims fundamentally understand the development simple analogues from Fe2O3-(Fe3O4)-CaO-SiO2 (FCS) ternary system (with no SFCA), connect results back overall mineralogy, strength, properties. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted simulate sintering process by firing tablets magnetite, hematite, lime silica mixtures under tightly controlled temperature, holding time atmosphere conditions. Mineralogy fired samples was observed using microscopy techniques, measured Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP), determined laboratory-scale tumble index equipment weight loss obtained after reaction a reducing CO/N2. confirmed strongly influenced porosity, highly reducible sinters can produced without forming SFCA-like phases. Magnetite-containing had similar hematite-containing samples, suggesting magnetite-based could potentially used blast furnace.