Effect of the firing temperature and the added MgO on the reduction swelling index of the pellet with low SiO2 content

The use of pellet with low SiO₂ content in blast furnace (BF) will reduce the slag amount as well as fuel rate and increase the productivity. In this paper, the effect of the firing temperature and the added MgO on the reduction swelling index (RSI) and the compressive strength of the reduced pellet with low SiO₂ content was investigated, and the microstructure of the fired and reduced pellets was analysed by means of the electron microscopy. It was found that the decrease of SiO₂ content will raise the RSI and reduce the compressive strength of reduced pellet. When the SiO₂ content of pellet is 4.8%, the RSI is 16.5% and compressive strength of reduced pellet is 423 N/P. When the SiO₂ content is 2.8 and 1.8% fired at 1280°C, the RSI of the reduced pellet will increase to 34.5 and 55.8% and the compressive strength is reduced to less than 200 and 80 N/P. However, if some MgO was added, the RSI and the compressive strength of the reduced pellet could be improved significantly. When pellet’s MgO content was over 1.7% and SiO₂ content was 2.8% or MgO content was 2.5% and SiO₂ content was 1.8% fired at 1280°C, the RSI of the two pellets could drop to less than 20% and the compressive strength could increase to more than 300 N/P. Then, the technical index of pellet will meet the requirement of the charging in large BF. The added MgO pellet with low SiO₂ content have been used in 5500?m³ BF in Shougang Jingtang Corporation and delivered sustainable improvement of cost reduction.