Comparison of physical properties of oxidative sintered pellets produced with UG2 or metallurgicalgrade South African chromite: a case study
Date
2015Author
Glastonbury, R.I.
Beukes, J.P.
Van Zyl, P.G.
Jordaan, A.
Campbell, Q.P.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The physical properties of oxidative sintered pellets produced from typical
South African UG2 ore are compared with the physical properties of pellets
produced with conventional South African metallurgical-grade chromite
ore (from the Lower Group 6 or the Middle Group 1 and 2 seams). A
statistical evaluation of the cured (sintered) compressive strengths proved
that pellets prepared from UG2 ore are likely to have the same, or better,
compressive strength than pellets prepared from metallurgical-grade
chromite ore. The cured abrasion strength of the UG2 pellets was also
superior to that of the metallurgical-grade pellets. Scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) backscatter, secondary electron, and elemental X-ray
mapping were used to determine the reasons for the general superior
strength of the UG2 pellets. The case study UG2 ore also required 13 kWh/t
less energy for milling to attain the required particle size distribution prior
to pelletization, which can lead to substantial cost savings. Results
presented in this paper can be utilized by ferrochromium (FeCr) producers
to better quantify the advantages and disadvantages associated with the
use of UG2 ore for FeCr production
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/16949https://www.saimm.co.za/Journal/v115n08p699.pdf
https://doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/2015/v115n8a6