Influence of MgO on Low Temperature Reduction and Mineralogical Changes of Sinter in Simulated COREX Shaft Furnace Reducing Conditions

COREX (Coal-Reduction-Extreme) smelting reduction process provides a sustainable developing way for ironmaking industry, but the sources of iron ore materials restrict its development in China. Meanwhile, the application of sinter, which is marked by low manufacture cost and overcapacity in China, to COREX furnace faced proportion limitation due to its worse low temperature reduction degradation performance. This work explored the influence of MgO content on the low-temperature (550 °C) reduction of sinter in reducing conditions simulating COREX shaft furnace. The mineralogical change of sinter containing different content of MgO before and after reduction was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy for revealing the action mechanism of MgO on the low-temperature-reduction of sinter. The results show that increasing MgO (1.36–3.10%) improved the low temperature reduction degradation performance of sinter, and decreased its reduction degree and reduction rate at low temperature. More MgO the sinter contained, less Fe2O3 and SFCA was observed in sinter. Meantime, less Fe2O3 was reduced and the generation of innerstress was restrained during reduction process. The improved RDI (reduction degradation index) in COREX process of sinter by increasing MgO content is a comprehensive result of lowering strength and inhibiting probable reduction of sinter.