Study on the Production and Metallurgical Properties of Fluxed Pellets with High Hematite Content

An experimental study on the preparation of fluxed pellets using common and widely available iron ore and additives was conducted. The number of drops, compressive strength, and cracking temperature of green pellets with different hematite and magnetite contents were analyzed. Some pellets that exhibited good properties were heated under different conditions. The effects of heating temperature and heating time on pellet strength were studied. The low-temperature reduction, refractoriness under load, and reduction swelling of pellets, and other influencing factors were analyzed. The internal structure of the pellets was examined with a microscope. The experimental results indicate that fluxed pellets with high hematite content prepared at a laboratory are easily oxidized and exhibit lower degree of low-temperature reduction. The refractoriness under load of pellets is 50A degrees C greater than that of acid pellets, their refractoriness-under-load range is wider (130A degrees C), and reduction swelling is less than 15%. Our findings indicate that the product can meet the blast-furnace production requirements.