HIGH-TEMPERATURE REDUCTION KINETICS OF ILMENITE BY HYDROGEN

Kinetics of hydrogen reduction of Norwegian ilmenite ore powders at high temperatures were investigated. The activation energy value of a surface chemical reaction, (69. 6 plus or minus 1. 2) kJ/mole, was calculated from sample weight loss-time experimental curves according to the 'shrinking unreacted core' model in the temperature range 927 to 1280 K. the optical microscopic study made on sections of synthetically prepared FeTiO//3 pellets at different reduction grades (25, 35 per cent) showed the existence of the surface between the reacted and unreacted zones of the sample. An electron probe qualitative analysis on reduced samples was also carried out which showed the existence of a segregated iron phase present as spheroidal nodules and a TiO//2 phase present as vein-like arrangements.