Influence of Particle Size of Fine Iron Ore on the Fluidity of Melt Formed in the Iron Ore Sintering Process

The fluidity of melt formed in the iron ore sintering process seems to be an important factor for agglomeration of raw mixtures, since the formed melt plays the role of bonding the un-fused coarse iron ores. In the present study, sintering experiment was conducted in order to find the optimal particle size of fine iron ore for maintaining the fluidity of melt under the condition with low slag ratio and a large amount of limonite ore in the raw mixtures. As the results, it was found that the fluidity of melt lowered by decreasing the slag ratio and by increasing the amount of limonite ore in the raw mixtures. Furthermore, the optimal particle size of fine iron ore to maintain the fluidity was found to be different depended on the slag ratio in the raw mixtures and the combined water content in the iron ore.