Influence of temperature and time on reduction behavior in iron ore–coal composite pellets

Abstract

In this study, the kinetics of reduction in iron ore–coal composite pellets has been investigated. Kinetic parameters were estimated from thermogravimetric data. X-ray diffraction was used to identify the products obtained after heating the composite pellet to different temperatures. Experimental results indicate that the reduction process is diffusion controlled below 900°C. There is a change in reduction mechanism above this temperature and mixed control is observed up to 1100°C above which reduction is phase-boundary controlled. The reduction rate has also been observed to decrease with progress in reduction.