Preparation of blast furnace burdens by composite agglomeration process: effect of distribution of magnetite and hematite concentrates in pelletized and matrix feed

Abstract

Effect of distribution of iron concentrates between pelletized and matrix feed on the preparation of blast furnace burdens from two different kinds of fine iron concentrates (magnetite and hematite) by composite agglomeration process (CAP) was explored. It was found that when the mass ratio of iron concentrate A (magnetite) to iron concentrate B (hematite) in the mixed feed was constant, the proportion of iron concentrate A in the pelletized and matrix feed significantly affected the quality of CAP products. Particularly, as the proportion of iron concentrate A in the pelletized feed increased from 0 to 100%, the yield decreased from 82.11% to 79.19% and the tumbler index decreased from 71.33% to 68.27%. The mineralization characterization results indicated that when 100% iron concentrate A was used as the pelletized feed, the crystallization styles of the outer layer and the inner layer of the pellet were different, and a lot of pores exist around hematite and magnetite phases in the pelletized part, with the weak connection of pelletized and matrix part, resulting in poor strength of agglomeration product.