SOME ASPECTS OF THE ROLE OF COAL THERMOPLASTICITY AND COKE STRUCTURE IN COAL-GASIFICATION .3. THE EFFECT OF RANK, PITCH AND SODIUM-CARBONATE ON BRABENDER PLASTOMETRY PARAMETERS

The thermoplastic properties of coal are a significant factor in determining gasification behaviour in most gasification processes. This investigation has involved the use of constant shear rate (Brabender) plastometry to study the plastic properties of a wide range of coals varying from 101 to 902 in the NCB Classification. The results obtained show more complex behaviour during the carbonization process than reported previously and are compared with ASTM Gieseler plastometry and BS dilatometry results. The effect of pitch and sodium carbonate addition on the plastometry parameters has also been studied. The results show that small amounts of these additives can radically change the plastometry curves.