Fundamental nucleus assimilation behaviour of haematite and goethite containing ores in iron ore sintering.

The CSIRO laboratory-scale assimilation test is carried out by embedding ore particles into a fluxed matrix of known sinter blend composition. Samples are fired in a tube furnace under controlled conditions simulating the actual sintering process. The aim is to isolate and evaluate the nucleus behaviour of an individual blend component. Measured cross-sections of the resulting fired samples provide a semi-quantitative measure of reactivity, while accompanying photomicrographs allow a qualitative assessment of assimilation properties. Nucleus particles were selected from haematite, haematite-goethite and goethite ores and embedded in a simulated plant sinter matrix. Drilled core particles of two sizes were tested at fixed temperatures simulating low temperature (<1300°C) and high temperature (>1300°C) sintering conditions. The resulting assimilation properties are compared and discussed as a function of particle size, temperature and ore/sinter mineralogy. The implications for the contribution of each component in the prediction of blend sinter quality are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]