On the Sponge Iron Powder Produced from Pyrite

This paper deals with the iron powder for powder metallurgy. This iron powder was produced from pyrite by a new process, which consists of flotation, roasting, treatment with nitric acid, reducing by hydrogen, rolling and annealing. Authors examined the characteristics of the iron powder. The results obtained are summerized as follows.1) The iron powder was very pure.2) The apparent density and flow rate of the iron powder could be improved by successive treatments of rolling and annealing.3) The apparent density of the iron powder could be controlled from 2.4g/cm3 to 3.3g/cm3 by conditions of rolling and annealing.4) In the case of the iron powder of which the apparent density was 2.4g/cm3, compressibility was compatible to the imported iron powder, but sinterability was greater than that of the imported iron powder. As for the mechanical properties, the iron powder was better than the imported iron powder.