Correlation Between Reduction Degree and Softening and Melting Properties of Pellets

With increasing application of oxygen-enriched or even oxygen blast furnace ironmaking technologies, more intensive indirect reduction, followed by softening and melting, of iron ore pellets may take place in the blast furnace. In this study, the correlation between reduction degree and softening and melting properties of pellets was investigated. The results showed that with the increased of the reduction degree, the softening start temperature (T-s) of pellets did not change significantly and melting start temperature (T-m) obviously increased. The dropping temperature of the pellets slightly increased with the reduction degree of the pellets increase. Since the increased temperature range of the softening zone interval (Delta T-S/degrees C) of the pellet was greater than the reduced temperature range of the melting zone interval (Delta T-M/degrees C), the range of the cohesive of the pellet was increased. The permeability of the pellets was obviously improved as the reduction degree increased. This study provided important guidance for blast furnace production under high reduction degree conditions.