Three-dimensional structure and micro-mechanical properties of iron ore sinter

A new analysis method based on serial sectioning and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction was developed to characterize the mineral microstructure of iron ore sinter. Through the 3D reconstruction of two types of iron ore sinters, the morphology and distribution of minerals in three-dimensional space were analyzed, and the volume fraction of minerals in a 3D image was calculated based on their pixel points. In addition, the microhardness of minerals was measured with a Vickers hardness tester. Notably, different mineral compositions and distributions are obtained in these two sinters. The calcium ferrite in Sinter 1 is dendritic with many interconnected pores, and these grains are crisscrossed and interwoven; the calcium ferrite in Sinter 2 is strip shaped and interweaves with magnetite, silicate and columnar pores. The calculated mineral contents based on a two-dimensional region are clearly different among various layers. Quantitative analysis shows that Sinter 1 contains a greater amount of calcium ferrite and hematite, whereas Sinter 2 contains more magnetite and silicate. The microhardness of minerals from highest to lowest is hematite, calcium ferrite, magnetite and silicate. Thus, Sinter 1 has a greater tumbler strength than Sinter 2.