Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Interaction Between Mineral Phases in a Goethitic Iron Ore and Fluxing Materials During Sintering

  • Original Research Article
  • Published:
Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The interaction between the minerals in a goethitic iron ore (goethite, quartz, hydrohematite, quartz-dispersed hydrohematite, and quartz-dispersed goethite) and pure flux materials (CaO, MgO, SiO2, and Al2O3) was studied by heating ore–flux interaction couples to different temperatures under 0.5 kPa O2 partial pressure when the samples were loaded into the hot zone of a furnace preheated to 1300 °C. The results show that CaO was the most effective flux for liquid-phase generation during sintering. MgO diffused into ore grains by solid-state diffusion and formed solid solution (Fe, Mg)O·Fe2O3, but did not generate liquid. Al2O3 and SiO2 in the interaction couples were relatively inert during heating. The goethite matrix, as the major mineral phase of the ore, played a key role in the interaction with CaO. At 1200 °C, no apparent liquid formation was observed. CaO diffused into the goethite matrix, and first reacted with SiO2 to form CaO·(SiO2)x. Then CaO combined with Fe2O3 and formed CaO·(Fe2O3)x. When heated to 1225 °C, CaO·(Fe2O3)x and CaO·(Fe2O3)x ·(SiO2)y phases formed by solid-state reaction started to melt. With increasing temperature, more liquid phase was generated. Whole ore particles were almost completely assimilated, with only a few dense ore fragments being observed in the samples heated to 1300 °C. Other mineral phases in the goethitic ore were less reactive due to their dense structure. On heating during sintering, dehydration of goethite generated a porous structure and cracks in the ore body, facilitating the diffusion of flux and penetration of flux-containing liquid phase. The core particles in the ore body, including hydrohematite minerals, remained relatively dense and so their assimilation during sintering is slow.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. E. R. Ramanaidou, R. C. Morris and R. C. Horwitz: Western Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 2003, vol. 50, pp. 669-690.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. R. Morris and M. Kneeshaw: Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 2011, vol. 58, pp. 417-451.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. R. C. Morris: Economic Geology, 1980, vol. 75, pp. 184-209.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. R. C. Morris and E. R. Ramanaidou: Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 2007, vol. 54, pp. 733-756.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. J. Manuel: Iron Ore 2017 Workshop Presentation, 2017.

  6. S. Wu, H. L. Han, H. X. Li, J. Xu, S. D. Yang, and X. Liu: International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy, and Materials, 2010, vol. 17, pp. 11-16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. S. Wu, Y. Liu, J. Du, K. Mi, H Lin: Journal of University of Science and Technology Beijing(China), 2002, 24, 254-257.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. D. Witchard: ISIJ international, 2000, vol. 40, pp. 647-653.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. L. Yang: ISIJ international, 2005, vol. 45, pp. 469-476.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. F. Zhang, D. Zhu and J. Pan: 8th International Symposium on High-Temperature Metallurgical Processing, 2017, pp. 615–625.

  11. Z. Liu, J. Gao, R. Gao, H. Wen, J. Wang: Iron and Steel, 2005, vol. 2, pp. 19-23.

    Google Scholar 

  12. H. Hu: Metallurgy of Sichuan, 2004, vol. 5, 39-42.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Y. Pei, Z. Zhao and Z. Ma: Sintering and Pelletizing, 2011. Vol. 5, pp. 2-9.

    Google Scholar 

  14. T. Shen, W. Chen: Mining and Metallurgy, 2010, vol. 4, pp. 75-79.

    Google Scholar 

  15. C. E. Loo, L. T. Matthews, and J. Ostwald: Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Section C, 1992, vol. 101, pp. 129-138..

    Google Scholar 

  16. J. Wang: Metallurgical Engineering, 2016, vol. 2, pp. 79-86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. H. Li, D. Pinson, P. Zulli, L. Lu, R. Longbottom, S. Chew, B. Monaghan, G. Zhang: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B, 2020, 24: 1-15.

    Google Scholar 

  18. H. Li, D. Pinson, P. Zulli, L. Lu, R. Longbottom, S. Chew, B. Monaghan, G. Zhang: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B, 2018, vol. 49, pp. 2285-2297.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. H. Li, D. Pinson, P. Zulli, L. Lu, R. Longbottom, S. Chew, B. Monaghan, G. Zhang: Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2019, vol. 385(121592), pp. 1-13.

    Google Scholar 

  20. C. E. Loo: ISIJ International, 2005, vol. 45, pp. 436-448.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. L. Lu: Iron Ore: Mineralogy, Processing and Environmental Sustainability, Elsevier, 2015, pp. 45-84.

    Google Scholar 

  22. E. W. Washburn: Physical Review, 1921, vol. 17, pp. 273-283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. R. M. German, Liquid Phase Sintering, Springer Science & Business Media, Berlin, Germany, 2013, pp. 13-41.

    Google Scholar 

  24. J. Carpenter, C. Bai, J. Escobedo-Diaz, J. Hwang, S. Ikhmayies, B. Li, J. Li, S. Monteiro, Z. Peng, M. Zhang, Characterization of Minerals, Metals, and Materials 2015, Springer, 2016, pp. 283-317.

    Google Scholar 

  25. V. D. Eisenhüttenleute and M. Allibert: Slag atlas, Verlag Stahleisen, Dusseldorf, Germany, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the Australian Research Council Research Hub for Australian Steel Manufacturing (Project Number IH130100017) and the support of BlueScope Steel Ltd. The SEM/EDS observations were carried out at the Electron Microscopy Center of the University of Wollongong.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ARC Research Hub for Australian Steel Manufacturing, School of Mechanical, Materials Mechatronics and Biomedical Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2500, Australia

    Huibin Li, Paul Zulli, Raymond J. Longbottom, Brian J. Monaghan & Guangqing Zhang

  2. BlueScope Steel, Port Kembla, NSW, 2505, Australia

    David J. Pinson & Sheng J. Chew

  3. CSIRO Queensland Center for Advanced Technologies, Brisbane, QLD, 4069, Australia

    Liming Lu

Authors
  1. Huibin Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David J. Pinson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Paul Zulli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Liming Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Raymond J. Longbottom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Sheng J. Chew
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Brian J. Monaghan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Guangqing Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guangqing Zhang.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Manuscript submitted September 11, 2020; accepted December 31, 2020.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, H., Pinson, D.J., Zulli, P. et al. Interaction Between Mineral Phases in a Goethitic Iron Ore and Fluxing Materials During Sintering. Metall Mater Trans B 52, 996–1011 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-021-02072-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-021-02072-2

Search

Navigation