Title

3D SEQUENTIAL IMAGING AND ANALYSIS OF IRON ORE PELLETS UNDER REDUCTION BY X-RAY MICROTOMOGRAPHY

3D SEQUENTIAL IMAGING AND ANALYSIS OF IRON ORE PELLETS UNDER REDUCTION BY X-RAY MICROTOMOGRAPHY

Authorship

Forsberg, Fredrik; Hjortsberg., Erik

Forsberg, Fredrik

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Hjortsberg., Erik

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DOI

10.5151/2594-357X-22288

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Abstract

In this study, X-ray microtomography, combined with textural analysis, is used for 3D imaging of iron ore pellets and characterisation of interior cracks under a reduction process. The work is currently focused on the development of the methods and therefore the results mainly reflect the possibilities with the technique. Reduction experiments on a number of iron ore pellets were performed in 4 steps during the transformation from hematite to magnetite at 500°C. The pellet microstructure is imaged and visualized before reduction and after each subsequent reduction step using x-ray microtomography and the crack distribution characterized with image analysis. For the chosen pellet composition, networks of cracks are already visible in the unreduced state and show a successive growth during the first half of the reduction process. However, this growth stops during the second half of the process, and for the majority of the investigated samples a certain regression of the crack size is observed. Although further studies are needed, it can be concluded that the use of X-ray microtomography has the potential to become an important tool for material characterization in iron ore pellet research due to its ability to gather information from the bulk of the material at several different stages of a process.

In this study, X-ray microtomography, combined with textural analysis, is used for 3D imaging of iron ore pellets and characterisation of interior cracks under a reduction process. The work is currently focused on the development of the methods and therefore the results mainly reflect the possibilities with the technique. Reduction experiments on a number of iron ore pellets were performed in 4 steps during the transformation from hematite to magnetite at 500°C. The pellet microstructure is imaged and visualized before reduction and after each subsequent reduction step using x-ray microtomography and the crack distribution characterized with image analysis. For the chosen pellet composition, networks of cracks are already visible in the unreduced state and show a successive growth during the first half of the reduction process. However, this growth stops during the second half of the process, and for the majority of the investigated samples a certain regression of the crack size is observed. Although further studies are needed, it can be concluded that the use of X-ray microtomography has the potential to become an important tool for material characterization in iron ore pellet research due to its ability to gather information from the bulk of the material at several different stages of a process.

Keywords

Iron ore pellets; 3D imaging; Characterisation; Cracks; Reduction strength; X-ray microtomography.

Iron ore pellets; 3D imaging; Characterisation; Cracks; Reduction strength; X-ray microtomography.