RESEARCH ON THE INFLUENCES OF FLUXES PARTICLE SIZE ON IRON ORE SINTERING PROCESS

In this paper, the basic sintering characteristics of common fluxes (quicklime, limestone, dolomite and serpentine) were examined in details with micro-sintering method by measuring the mineralization capacity, liquid generation capacity, consolidation strength of iron ores and fluxes with different particle sizes, then the difference and influencing law were analyzed. Based on the fundamental study, sintering pot tests with different particle size of fluxes were carried out, and the reducibility and mineralogical morphology of sinters were further investigated. The results show that: (1)With the particle size of fluxes decreasing, the mineralization capacity and liquid phase generation capacity of iron ore fines and flux increased. But different from other fluxes, with the particle size of limestone decreasing, the pores in sinter affected the consolidation strength of sample. (2)The decrease of flux particle size went against the productivity of sinter, but when the particle size of quicklime, dolomite and especially that of serpentine decreased, the sinter strength, production yield, reducibility and mineralogical morphology of sinter were improved, and the coke consumption decreased. However, the particle size of limestone decreased affected the quality of the sinter negatively. (3)The refinement of quicklime, dolomite and especially of serpentine could improve the properties of sinter and decrease energy consumption greatly without considering the productivity.