Influence of magnesia on iron ore sinter properties and productivity

Abstract Dolomite and other MgO bearing materials are being increasingly used as basic flux constituents for production of fluxed sinters. Addition of flux materials in sinter influences the resultant sinter microstructure and chemical properties. The physical and metallurgical properties of sinter mainly depend on mineralogy of the sinter. Dolomite is the source of double carbonate of calcium and magnesium. Recent studies reveal that, apart from the additional fuel needed, the addition of dolomite and MgO bearing material greatly influences the magnetite content and the properties of the sinter produced. The increasing use of MgO bearing fluxes in the blast furnace burden, and the trend to incorporate a major part of fluxes in the sinter mix led to an investigation of the influence of MgO on sinter properties and productivity. In this study, the systematic investigation has been made on the influence of MgO% (1·4 to 2·6) on sinter mineralogy and sinter properties with dolomite. Microstructural examination of dolomite sinter revealed that hematite and calcium ferrite phases decreased whereas magnetite phase increased with increase in MgO percentage in sinter. From the laboratory pot grate sintering results it was found that sinter reduction degradation index improved whereas tumbler index and reducibility decreased with increase in MgO%.