Evaluation of the Wettability and Other Physical Properties of Iron Ore Particles that Consumed in the Pelletizing Plant of Mobarakeh Steel Co.

Mostly, the physical properties of iron ore particles such as wettability, size, size distribution and morphology have important effects on the pellet ability of powder mixtures and quality of green pellet. In this work, these physical properties of particles used in the pelletizing plant of Mobarakeh Steel Co. were studied. The wettability of iron ore particles was evaluated using different wetting media and the samples which were prepared from lumps of low and high purity iron ores (received from Chadormalu and Sangan). The scanning electron microscope, laser diffraction particle sizing measurement (SLS method) and sieve screening experiments were used to evaluate the shape, size and size distribution of particles. The BET and Fisher tests were employed to determine the pore distribution and specific surface area, respectively. The high wettability was measured for high-grade Chadormalu iron ore when Carboxymethyl cellulose organic binder solution was used. The results also showed that the NaOH addition reduces the wettability of iron ore. The average particle size of milled concentrate in the mixed materials was measured around 10 . The small particle sizes facilitate the formation of micro-agglomerates in powder and the consequent reduction of capillary pressure during the pellet forming. The results of BET experiment also revealed the reduction in porosity and roughness of particles surfaces.