Size Distribution Behavior of Metallic Iron Particles in Coal-Based Reduction Products of an Oolitic Iron Ore

Abstract

The size distribution of metallic iron particles is important to better understand the coal-based reduction mechanisms of refractory iron ores. This study was focused on the particle size distribution behavior of metallic iron in coal-based reduction products of an oolitic iron ore. The size of metallic iron particles was measured using image analysis, and the data obtained were analyzed using frequency and cumulative distributions. The curves of the size-frequency distribution and cumulative passing percentage of metallic iron particles exhibited nearly the same trend with respect to particle size. The particle size distribution of metallic iron particles was markedly influenced by both reduction time and temperature. The number of metallic iron particles with large size increased with the reduction time and temperature. Goodness-of-fit tests indicated that the power function and the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of the log-normal distribution best fitted the experimental data of size frequency distribution and cumulative passing percentage of metallic iron particles, respectively.