Abstract:
The iron ore pellets, during the reduction in ironmaking, suffer crystalline and structural changes of great magnitude, which cause internal stresses in the ferrous oxide crystals and slag phase. Thus, to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the properties and quality of the pellets, the phenomena of swelling (volume expansion) and disintegration (generation of fines) occur. Swelling and disintegration are undesirable, as they cause disturbances in the flows of materials and gases within the reduction reactors, and negatively affects the productivity in ironmaking. This paper presents some conceptual aspects that are responsible for these phenomena.