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Carburization effects on pig iron nugget making

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Abstract

The iron nugget process is an economical, environmentally friendly, cokeless, single-step pig iron making process. Residence-time dependent process requirements for the production of pig iron nuggets at a fixed furnace temperature (1,425°C) were investigated. Depending on the residence time in the furnace, three chemically and physically different products were produced. These products were direct reduced iron (DRI), transition direct reduced iron (TDRI) and pig iron nuggets (PIN). The increase in the carbon content of the structure as a function of residence time was detected by optical microscopy and microhardness measurements. Sufficient carbon dissolution for the production of pig iron nuggets was obtained after a residence time of 40 minutes. The pig iron nuggets produced had chemical and physical properties similar to blast furnace pig iron. They were liquid-state products, and the slag was completely separated from the metal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA

    B. Anameric (Graduate student)

  2. Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA

    K. B. Rundman (professor)

  3. Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA

    S. K. Kawatra (professor)

Authors
  1. B. Anameric
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  2. K. B. Rundman
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  3. S. K. Kawatra
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Paper number MMP-05-005. Discussion of this peer-reviewed and approved paper is invited and must be submitted to SME Publications Dept. prior to Feb. 28, 2007.

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Anameric, B., Rundman, K.B. & Kawatra, S.K. Carburization effects on pig iron nugget making. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 23, 139–150 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403201

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