Physicochemical and Mechanical Properties of Nickel Laterite Ore Powder

The physicochemical properties of nickel laterite ore powder were investigated by XRD, SEM and TG/DSC characterization techniques. The mechanical properties including repose angle and friction angle were measured by powder performance tester and direct shear apparatus. The result of XRD showed that the main phases of nickel laterite ore powder were lizardite and quartz. The SEM indicated that the internal structure of nickel laterite ore powder was loose relatively, samdwich and granular structures were found in microstructure. The results of TG/DSC indicated that the crystal water was removed at 610°C, and cristallographic transformation of antigorite to forsterite was occurred at 820°C. Repose angle and friction angle were influenced intensively by moisture content. Repose angle increased with the increasing of moisture content, dynamic repose angle was less than that of static repose angle, the fluidity of nickel laterite ore powder could be improved by the decreasing of moisture content. Internal friction angle and wall friction angle decreased with the increasing of moisture content because water acted as the lubrication action in mineral powder materials and decreased the friction coefficient of mineral powder materials.