The flux pellets as the burden materials of blast furnace have been widely investigated and used. However, its research and practical applications keep slowly developing in China due to the historical status of the sinter and the limitation of raw material condition. The sinter output is constrained by the environmental department due to its great emission of air pollutants. Therefore, enhancing the development of pellets becomes an urgent task for China’s steel enterprises. Flux pellets shows excellent adaptability in ironmaking compared with acid pellet, but the investigation on its preparation and utilisation in China is far from enough. This review provides a summary of the current research status and application of flux pellets in China, which mainly focuses on the metallurgical properties and their interfering factors, as well as BF production indexes after using, hoping to provide a comprehensive understanding for flux pellets and push its technical progress continuously.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
JiangTZhangYBHuangZCet al.Preheating and roasting characteristics of hematite–magnetite (H–M) concentrate pellets. Ironmak Steelmak. 2008;35(1):21–26.
2.
YangXDZhangDCLiuKet al.Substituted pelleting for sintering—An important approach of energy-saving, low-carbon and emission reduction before ironmaking. J Eng Stud. 2017;9(1):44–52. (in Chinese).
YongYZhuTYLiuXL.Progress of ultra-low emission technology for key processes of iron and steel industry in China. Iron Steel. 2019;54(9):1–11. (in Chinese).
5.
WangXDLiJXHuQC.Application practice of source and process sulfur-nitrate reduction technology based on optimization of blast furnace charge structure. Iron Steel. 2019;54(12):101–110. (in Chinese).
6.
LinCCShenHB.The influence of burden structure on blast furnace smelting. The 10th China Iron and Steel Annual Meeting and the 6th Baosteel academic Annual Meeting; Shanghai, China; 2015. (in Chinese).
7.
ZhangFMWangQSHanZGet al.Innovation and application on pelletizing technology of large traveling grate induration machine. AISTech 2015 Proceedings of the Iron & Steel Technology Conference; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; 2015.
8.
ZhangFMZhangWHQingGLet al.Design and application on pelletizing technologies and equipments in large-scale belt type roasting machine. Sinter Pelletizing. 2021;46(1):1–10. (in Chinese).
9.
FanXHGanMJiangTet al.Influence of flux additives on iron ore oxidized pellets. J Cent South Univ Technol. 2010;17(4):732–737.
10.
BiswasBK.Principles of blast furnace ironmaking. Brisbane: Cootha publishing house; 1981.
11.
CoetseeTPistoriusPCde VilliersEE. Rate-determining steps for reduction in magnetite-coal pellets. Miner Eng. 2002;15(11):919–929.
12.
KhakiJVKashiwayaIshii K.High temperature behaviour of selffluxed pellets during heating up reduction. Ironmak Steelmak. 1994;21(1):56–63.
13.
SembergPRAnderssonCBjörkmanB.Interaction between iron oxides and olivine in magnetite pellets during reduction to femet at temperatures of 1000–1300°C. ISIJ Int. 2013;53(8):1341–1349.
InazumiTShinadaKKawabeM.Influence of mineralogical characteristic of hematite in self-fluxed sinter on its degradation during the reduction. Tetsu-to-Hagane. 1982;68(15):2207–2214.
16.
YadavUSPandeyBDDasBKet al.Influence of magnesia on sintering characteristics of iron ore. Ironmak Steelmak. 2002;29(2):91–95.
17.
BallDFDartnellJDavisonJet al.Agglomeration of iron ores. London: Heinemann Educational Books Ltd; 1973.
18.
CookeSRStowasserWF.The effect of heat treatment and certain additives on the strength of fired magnetite pellets. Trans AIME. 1952;193(1):1223–1230.
19.
TigerschioldM.Aspects on pelletizing of iron ore concentrates. Iron Steel Inst. 1954;177(5):13.
20.
ChenYMZhangYB.Study on crystallization rule of oxidized pellet. Iron Steel. 2005;33(3):10–12. (in Chinese).
21.
ZhangYM.Pellets production technology. Beijing: Metallurgical Industry Press; 2008; (in Chinese).
22.
FrielJJEricksonES.Chemistry, microstructure, and reduction characteristics of dolomite-fluxed magnetite pellets. Metall Trans B. 1980;11(2):233–243.
23.
IljanaMKemppainenAPaananenTet al.Effect of adding limestone on the metallurgical properties of iron ore pellets. Int J Miner Process. 2015;141:34–43.
24.
DwarapudiSSekharCPaulIet al.Effect of fluxing agents on quality and microstructure of hematite pellets. Int J Metallurg Eng. 2017;6(1):18–30.
25.
HamiltonJDG.Mechanisms of bond development in hematite ore pellets fluxed with limesand. Trans Inst Min Metall. 1976;85:C30–C39.
26.
WynnyckyjJFahidyT.Solid state sintering in the induration of iron ore pellets. Metall Trans. 1974;5(5):991–1000.
27.
MohantyMKMishraSMishraBet al.Effect of basicity on the reduction behavior of iron ore pellets. Arab J Sci Eng. 2018;43(11):5989–5998.
28.
MandalAKSarkarASinhaOP.Utilization of lime fines as an effective binder as well as fluxing agent for making fluxed iron ore pellets. J Inst Eng D. 2016;97(1):69–75.
29.
CaiXFTianTL.Effect of basicity on strength high magnesa basicity pellet. Multipurp Util Miner Resour. 2014;4:11. (in Chinese).
30.
DwarapudiSGhoshTKShankarAet al.Effect of pellet basicity and MgO content on the quality and microstructure of hematite pellets. Int J Miner Process. 2011;99(1–4):43–53.
31.
TianTLLiJXingHW.Influence of liquid phase quantity on compressive strength of high magnesia alkaline pellet. Sinter Pelletizing. 2015;40(3):22–24. (in Chinese).
32.
DishwarRKMandalAKSinhaO.Studies on highly fluxed iron Ore pellets hardened at 1100 °C to 1200 °C. Metall Mater Trans B. 2019;50(2):617–621.
33.
LiKWangCH.Experimental study on limestone fluxed pellets. Sinter Pelletizing. 2015;40(2):32–35. (in Chinese).
34.
ZhangJL.Roasting characteristics and reduction behaviors of fluxed Brazilian hematite oxidized pellets. Changsha: Central South University; 2012. (in Chinese).
35.
ZhangYPFuJYJiangT.The influence of gangue contents on properties of pellet. Sinter Pelletizing. 2002;27(4):11–14. (in Chinese).
36.
GanMFanXHChenXLet al.Application of Ca, Mg-additives in oxidized pellets. J Cent South Univ (Sci Technol). 2010;41(5):1645–1651. (in Chinese).
37.
MalyshevaTYYusfinYSPlotnikovS.Pellet production from magnetite ore. Steel Trans. 2011;41(9):705–707.
38.
LiYRLiJLRenW.Experimental study on the iron ore pellet using high-efficient additive containing MgO. Iron Steel. 2010;45(5):17–19. (in Chinese).
39.
GaoQJShenFMWeiGet al.Effects of MgO containing additive on low-temperature metallurgical properties of oxidized pellet. J Iron Steel Res Int. 2013;20(7):25–28.
40.
EiseleTKawatraS.A review of binders in iron ore pelletization. Miner Process Extr Metall Rev. 2003;24(1):1–90.
41.
GaoQJ.Preparation of MgO bearing additive for pellet and mechanism investigation of it on the effect to quality of pellets. Shenyang: Northeastern University; 2014. (in Chinese).
42.
GaoQJJiangXWeiGet al.Effects of MgO on densification and consolidation of oxidized pellets. J Cent South Univ. 2014;21(3):877–883.
43.
ShenFMGaoQJWeiGet al.Densification process of MgO bearing pellets. Steel Res Int. 2015;86(6):644–650.
44.
YangSPShiZXLiuZet al.Metallurgical performance of sintered ore at yicheng steel company. J Iron Steel Res. 2008;20(12):59–62. (in Chinese).
45.
XieLB.Investigation on strengthening concretion of magnesium pellets and its mechanism. Changsha: Central South University; 2012. (in Chinese).
46.
LiuQH.Study on adding MgO in the pellet. Min Eng. 2014;12(1):31–33. (in Chinese).
47.
PanJYuHBZhuDQet al.Effect of MgO content and sources on induration behavior of magnetite concentrate pellets. J Cent South Univ (Sci Technol). 2016;9:2. (in Chinese).
48.
ShenFMGaoQJJiangXet al.Effect of magnesia on the compressive strength of pellets. Int J Miner Metall Mater. 2014;21(5):431–437.
49.
YanJW.Practice of adding high magnesia concentrate to increase MgO content in pellet. Sinter Pelletizing. 2011;36(4):28–31. (in Chinese).
50.
DwarapudiSGhoshTKTathavadkarVet al.Effect of MgO in the form of magnesite on the quality and microstructure of hematite pellets. Int J Miner Process. 2012;112–113(4):55–62.
51.
HooeyPZarinsKDahlstedtAet al.Behaviour of kaolinite coated olivine pellets in blast furnace. Ironmak Steelmak. 2004;31(4):333–341.
52.
WangRRZhangJLLiuZJet al.Effects of magnesium olivine on the mineral structure and compressive strength of pellets. Ironmak Steelmak. 2020;47(2):100–105.
53.
QinDBJieYLLongHM.Industrial test of magnesia pellet production in Masteel. Sinter Pelletizing. 2011;36(2):28–31. (in Chinese).
54.
MerajMPramanikSPalJ.Role of MgO and its different minerals on properties of iron ore pellet. Trans Indian Inst Met. 2016;69(6):1141–1153.
55.
QingGLWuKTianYet al.Effect of the firing temperature and the added MgO on the reduction swelling index of the pellet with low SiO2 content. Ironmak Steelmak. 2018;45(1):83–89.
56.
FanXHXieLBGanMet al.Roasting characteristics of magnesium pellets and mechanism of strengthening concretion. J Cent South Univ (Sci Technol)2013;44(2):449–455. (in Chinese).
57.
ZhuDQPanJ.Effect of basicity on the strength and reduction behavior of specularite pellets. 2015 National Sinter and Pellet Technical Exchange Annual Meeting; Chongqing, China; 2015. (in Chinese).
58.
De SouzaRDe MendoncaCKaterT.Production of acid iron ore pellet for direct reduction, using an organic binder. Min Eng. 1984;36(10):1437–1441.
59.
MeyerK.Pelletizing of iron ores. New York: Berlin Heidelberg; 1980.
60.
FuwaTBan-YaS.Swelling of iron ore pellets during reduction. Trans Iron Steel Inst Jpn. 1969;9(2):137–147.
61.
BahgatMAbdel HalimKSEl-KeleshHAet al.Metallic iron whisker formation and growth during iron oxide reduction: K2 O effect. Ironmak Steelmak. 2009;36(5):379–387.
62.
LiJ.Study on mechanism and process of direct reduction of pellets made from concentrate and composite binder. Changsha: Central South University; 2007. (in Chinese).
63.
FuJYJiangTZhuDQ.Sintering and pelletizing. Changsha: Central South University; 1996.
64.
El-GeassyAANasrMIHessienMM.Effect of reducing gas on the volume change during reduction of iron oxide compacts. ISIJ Int. 1996;36(6):640–649.
65.
NasrMIOmarAAHessienMMet al.Carbon monoxide reduction and accompanying swelling of iron oxide compacts. ISIJ Int. 1996;36(2):164–171.
66.
NascimentoRCMourãoMBCapocchiJDT.Kinetics and catastrophic swelling during reduction of iron ore in carbon bearing pellets. Ironmak Steelmak. 1999;26(3):182–186.
67.
PonghisN.Reduction of blast furnace coke rate: coal injection. Iron Steelmaker. 1998;25(8):35–40.
68.
FrazerFWestenbergerHBossKet al.The relationship between basicity and swelling on reduction of iron-ore pellets. Int J Miner Process. 1975;2(4):353–365.
69.
YiLHuangZJiangTet al.Swelling behavior of iron ore pellet reduced by H2–CO mixtures. Powder Technol. 2015;269:290–295.
70.
WangHSohnHY.Effects of firing and reduction conditions on swelling and iron whisker formation during the reduction of iron oxide compact. ISIJ Int. 2011;51(6):906–912.
71.
WangHTSohnHY.Effect of CaO and SiO2 on swelling and iron whisker formation during reduction of iron oxide compact. Ironmak Steelmak. 2011;38(6):447–452.
72.
WangZCChuMSLiuZGet al.Effects of temperature and atmosphere on pellets reduction swelling index. J Iron Steel Res Int. 2012;19(10):7–12.
73.
DwarapudiSGhoshTKShankarAet al.Effect of pyroxenite flux on the quality and microstructure of hematite pellets. Int J Miner Process. 2010;96(1–4):45–53.
74.
DwarapudiSRaoSMurthyJet al.Effect of activated bentonite on properties of green and fired chromite pellets. Ironmak Steelmak. 2008;35(4):308–314.
75.
ZhuDChunTPanJet al.Influence of basicity and MgO content on metallurgical performances of Brazilian specularite pellets. Int J Miner Process. 2013;125:51–60.
76.
NicolleRRistA.The mechanism of whisker growth in the reduction of wüstite. Metall Trans B. 1979;10(3):429–438.
77.
LiYRLiJLZhangLGet al.Effects of additives on reduction swelling of iron ore pellets. Iron Steel. 2009;44(10):14–17. (in Chinese).
78.
ZhangLGZhangZRenTX.Study on compound dolomite flux on pellet in ansteel. China Metall. 2011;21(8):34–38. (in Chinese).
79.
ZhouMSLiuWSZhaiLWet al.Development of complex fluxed pellet. China Metall. 2006;3:23–26. (in Chinese).
80.
FuJYZhuDQ.Basic principle, technology and equipment of iron ore oxidation pellets. Changsha: Central South University Press; 2005; (in Chinese).
81.
ZhuDQGaoZFPanJet al.Influence of pellet basicity and MgO content on roasting and metallurgical properties of pellets. J Cent South Univ (Sci Technol). 2013;44(10):3963–3970. (in Chinese).
82.
XiaoQ.Theory and practice of agglomeration. Changsha: Central South University of Technology Press; 1991; (in Chinese).
83.
MuranA. Phase eqilibria among oxides in steelmaking; 1965.
84.
YangSY.Ways to improve the quality of acid pellet containing MgO. Anhui Metall. 2003;1:20–23. (in Chinese).
85.
JiangTHeGQLiGHet al.Effect of gangue composition on reduction swelling of iron ore pellets. Iron Steel. 2007;5(42):7–11. (in Chinese).
86.
LiSH.Experimental study on application of Mg-bearing additives in iron ore pellet. Sinter Pelletizing. 2011;36(1):33–37. (in Chinese).
87.
WangZCChuMSTangJet al.Effects of reducing atmosphere and gangue composition on reduction swelling of oxidized pellets. J Northeast Univ (Nat Sci). 2012;33(1):94–97. (in Chinese).
88.
QingGLWuKLiuHSet al.Effect and mechanism of calcinationtemperature on reduction swelling rate of low silica magnesium pellets. Chin J Nonferrous Met. 2015;25(10):2905–2912. (in Chinese).
89.
HouEJWangBMaWet al.Study on pellet with adding magnesite composite binder in ansteel. Angang Technology. 2017;4:10–14. (in Chinese).
90.
LuLHolmesRJManuelJR.Effects of alumina on sintering performance of hematite iron ores. ISIJ Int. 2007;47(3):349–358.
91.
HuangYJ.Experimental study on reasonable MgO/SiO2 ratio of iron ore pellet. Angang Technology. 2008;3:14–17. (in Chinese).
92.
ZhouGFYangF.Effects of adding MgO on pelletizing ability and strength of pellet. Res Iron Steel. 2009;37(2):10–13. (in Chinese).
93.
ZhangXP.Feasibility study on MgO-containing pellet production in Masteel. Sinter Pelletizing. 2010;35(5):16–19. (in Chinese).
94.
SunTSunGChenW.Industrial test of improve metallurgical properties through high magnsium concentrate addition in pellet. Henan Metall. 2014;22(4):8–9. (in Chinese).
95.
WangDJWuSL.Preparation and application of magnesium pellets using hematite. Iron Steel. 2015;50(10):19–25. (in Chinese).
96.
SongZQ.Influence of MgO content on the quality of product pellet. Sinter Pelletizing. 2001;26(6):22–24. (in Chinese).
97.
DwarapudiSRanjanM.Influence of oxide and silicate melt phases on the RDI of iron ore pellets suitable for shaft furnace of direct reduction process. ISIJ Int. 2010;50(11):1581–1589.
98.
ZhangSJJiangZQZhuLGet al.Research on pellets add additive containing MgO. J Heb Polytech Univ (Nat Sci Ed). 2011;33(4):22–24. (in Chinese).
99.
SharmaTGuptaRCPrakashB.Effect of firing condition and ingredients on the swelling Behaviour of iron Ore pellets. Trans Iron Steel Inst Jpn. 1993;33(4):446–453.
100.
SharmaT.Swelling of iron Ore pellets under Non-isothermal condition. ISIJ Int. 1994;34(12):960–963.
101.
PanigrahySJenaBRigaudM.Characterization of bonding and crystalline phases in fluxed pellets using peat moss and bentonite as binders. Metall Trans B. 1990;21(3):463–474.
102.
JohnDSNakibogluFHayesP.The effect of sulfur on the gaseous reduction of solid calciowustites. Metall Trans B. 1986;17(2):383–393.
103.
ZhouMSShenFMZhaiLWet al.Influences of MgO adding method on improving metallurgical properties of pellet. Iron Steel. 2012;47(4):14–18. (in Chinese).
104.
LuWK.The role of magnesia in iron ore pellets. Scand J Metall. 1983;12(4):166–176.
105.
PanXYLongYLiSZet al.Effect of ω(MgO) on metallurgical properties of flux pellets. Iron Steel. 2019;54(10):17–22. (in Chinese).
106.
SugiyamaTShirouchiSTsuchiyaOet al.High temperature reduction and softening properties of pellets with magnesite. ISIJ Int. 1983;23(2):153–160.
107.
WangXZZhangJLLiuZJet al.Study on reduction behavior of low silicon magnesium pellet. Sinter Pelletizing. 2018;43(1):44–49. (in Chinese).
108.
GuhaMSinhaM.Tracking softening-melting behaviour of blast furnace burden. ISIJ Int. 2015;55(9):2033–2035.
109.
IljanaMKemppainenAHeikkinenEet al.A new sophisticated method for evaluating the reduction softening properties of iron burden materials. METEC and 2nd ESTAD Conference; 2015.
110.
NogueiraPFFruehanRJ.Blast furnace burden softening and melting phenomena: part I. pellet bulk interaction observation. Metall Mater Trans B. 2004;35(5):829–838.
111.
NishimuraTHiguchiKNaitoMet al.Evaluation of softening, shrinking and melting reduction behavior of raw materials for blast furnace. ISIJ Int. 2011;51(8):1316–1321.
112.
ChewSJZulliPMaldonadoDet al.Melt down behaviour of a fused layer in the blast furnace cohesive zone. ISIJ Int. 2003;43(3):304–313.
113.
MandalAK.Quality improvements of lime fluxed pellets. Proc of ISS-AIME 40th Iron Making Conference; 1980.
114.
LiangQB.Production of selffluxed pellets. Sinter Pelletizing. 1989;14(2):35–41. (in Chinese).
115.
HuangTZ.Present state and development trend of pelletiaing additives research. Sinter Pelletizing. 1997;22(3):1–7. (in Chinese).
116.
NaritaKMaekawaMShigakiIet al.On the permeability resistance of pellets containing MgO in the softening and melting zone of blast furnace. Tetsu-to-Hagané. 1977;63(10):1623–1632.
117.
VeikkoNiiniskorpiCG.Mineral phase and microstructure of olivine and dolomite flux pellets in LKAB plant. Mod Metall. 2003;4:1–13. (in Chinese).
118.
WuGSBianMZShenFM.Use of magnesium-bearing basic pellet and reasonable burden design. Iron Steel. 2006;41(12):19–25. (in Chinese).
119.
WangWX.Improve the ratio of pellets in blast furnace burden to promote energy saving and emission reduction. Metall Manag. 2018;9:19. (in Chinese).
120.
SadrnezhaadSKFerdowsiAPayabH.Mathematical model for a straight grate iron ore pellet induration process of industrial scale. Comput Mater Sci. 2008;44(2):296–302.
121.
YuHZLiaoJYFanXH.Application and research progress of pelletizing technology of belt roaster. Sinter Pelletizing. 2020;45(4):47–54.
122.
ZhangFMZhaoMGCaoCZ.New technological progress of ironmaking in shougang. AISTech 2017 Proceedings of the Iron & Steel Technology Conference; Nashville, TN, USA; 2017.
123.
LiuWWLiMQingGLet al.Industrial test of high magnesia pellet in Shougang Jingtang. Sinter Pelletizing. 2012;37(5):36–39. (in Chinese).
124.
MaoQWZhangQFLiXet al.Study and application of high pellet rate technology in super-large sized BF. Ironmaking. 2020;39(6):1–6. (in Chinese).
125.
TengZJChenJChenCet al.Smelting operation system of Shougang Jingtang 5500 m3 BF under high pellet rate. Ironmaking. 2020;39(6):7–10. (in Chinese).
126.
WuHLXueXXChenGet al.Research and practice on production of pellets containing fluorine and MgO. Iron Steel. 2005;40(7):9–12. (in Chinese).
127.
XuTLXiaTDingWH.Practice of smelting MgO pellets in blast furnace. Iron Mak Technol J. 2005;3:9–10. (in Chinese).
128.
LiCGZhangYPHuHQet al.Production experiment on adding magnesia fines in pellet. Sinter Pelletizing. 2012;37(5):44–48. (in Chinese).
129.
JiangX.Fundamental study on reasonable utilizating of raw material containing MgO in the burden of BF. Shenyang: Northeastern University; 2008; (in Chinese).
