Factors influencing the bonding phase structure of iron ore sinters

The properties of melts formed in the flame front during iron ore sintering determine the structure of the ensuing sinter bonding phases. The tumble strength of sinter particles and yield from a sinter strand are largely determined by the inherent strength and structure of the bonding phases present. In this study, bench-scale tests were carried out to study the effect of melt chemical composition and sintering conditions on bonding phase micro-structure. The study showed that phosphorus, silica, alumina and magnesia levels, sinter basicity and maximum sintering temperature influenced bonding phase structure through the reshaping and coalescing of the melt and bubbles. Information in the literature indicates that some of the observed changes in pore properties can be explained by changes in viscosity and surface tension of the melts. The inability to explain all the changes are most likely related to the differences in chemical compositions between melts considered in the literature and the sintering melts formed in this study. The study also showed that image analysis could used to provide a reliable objective description of the obtained sinter micro-structures.