Study on Sintering Characteristics of Ultra-Poor Vanadium-Titanium Magnetite

Abstract

Artificial rich ore for blast furnace use can be produced by sintering ultra-poor vanadium-titanium magnetite (PVTM) with a high-grade iron concentrate. Here, acid (R = 0.33, 0.50), self-fluxing (R = 1.10), and high-basicity (R = 2.60) PVTM sinters were produced in a sinter pot. Their performances were determined using the comprehensive index. The microstructures of the PVTM sinter were observed by metallographic microscope and scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersion spectrum (SEM-EDS). The results suggest that the acid PVTM sinter had a low flame front speed, low productivity, an uneven size distribution, and poor softening properties. It did have a high tumble index (TI) and low-temperature reduction disintegration index (RDI). The self-fluxing PVTM sinter had the worst performance (TI, RDI, reducibility index (RI)), while the high-basicity PVTM sinter had the highest flame front speed, highest productivity, a reasonable size distribution, excellent softening properties, and satisfactory TI and RDI values. The main consolidation form of the acid sinter was crystal stock, the main bonding phase of the self-fluxing sinter was silicate, and the main bonding phase of the high-basicity sinter was silico-ferrite of calcium and aluminum (SFCA). The comprehensive index values (from high to low) were the high-basicity (R = 2.60), acid (R = 0.50), natural acid (R = 0.33), and self-fluxing (R = 1.10) PVTM sinters. When the production capacity of the acid pellet was in shortage, the acid PVTM sinter (R = 0.50) could be produced by the surplus from the sinter plant. This replaced a part of the acid pellet and the burden structural model of the blast furnace smelting vanadium so the titanium burden could adopt a ‘high-basicity PVTM sinter + acid V-Ti pellet + acid (R = 0.50) PVTM sinter’.

Research on the Preparation of Sinter for COREX Reduction Process by Varying Basicity and MgO Content

“…Furthermore, the influence of basicity on solid fuel consumption was more obvious with higher MgO content of sinter. These experimental results are partially congruent with some previous research findings, especially for the sinter strength, even though they have different raw material conditions compared with this work [25,26]. For sinter production, the basicity range of 1.2-1.6 should be avoided regardless of MgO content In the reducing condition simulated COREX shaft furnace, the effects of basicity on the RDI and RI of sinter samples with different MgO content were investigated and the results are shown in Figure 6.…”

Effect of TiO2 on the Sintering Behavior of Low-Grade Vanadiferous Titanomagnetite Ore

“…Recently, with the continuous advancement of mining technology and soaring mineral resource prices, the value of the large amount of low-grade vanadiferous titanomagnetite ore (LVTM) identified within the mine production areas has been highlighted by steel companies. The LVTM resources in the Chengde area have been estimated to exceed 10 billion tons [6][7][8][9]. Multiple studies have been done on conventional VTM, while fewer studies on LVTM with complex phase compositions and different properties are available [5,6].…”

“…To use LVTM efficiently, the authors' laboratory proposed the sintering behaviors of LVTM [7][8][9][10]. In the blast furnace (BF) process where iron ore is reduced to molten iron, the LVTM sinter with different basicity, coke ratios, and MgO contents have been studied.…”

Influence of Sea Sand on Sintering of V–Ti–Fe Concentrate—A Case Study from Indonesia

“…Although sea sand has abundant reserves, stable iron content, is easily mined, and has low mining and transportation costs, sea sand contains high vanadium and titanium content, compact structure, high hardness, and high melting point, and it has not yet been effectively used on a large scale [4][5][6]. Therefore, sea sand is regarded as a new vanadium and titanium resource, and some scholars have proposed using sea sand instead of high-quality iron ore for sintering production to reduce production costs [7][8][9].…”