Iron Ore Pelletization Methods and Properties
Summary
Iron ore pelletization transforms fine ore particles into uniform, spherical pellets suitable for blast furnace or direct‐reduction routes. The process comprises balling to form green pellets, followed by induration—a controlled thermal treatment that sinters the pellets into mechanically robust fired products. Traditional binders such as bentonite deliver reliable green and dry strength but introduce silica and alumina impurities that can compromise metallurgical performance. Recent advances focus on organic and composite binders, including humic substances and specialised polymers, which adhere through capillary and van der Waals forces and volatilise cleanly during firing. Key properties include green, dry and fired compressive strengths; porosity and reducibility kinetics; microstructural evolution (grain growth and spinel phase formation); and chemical purity. Optimising feed moisture, pellet size and induration temperature enables low‐carbon ironmaking, efficient utilisation of low‐grade fines and improved blast furnace performance, with global implications for resource efficiency and steel‐making sustainability.
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Iron Ore Pelletization Methods and Properties publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in iron ore pelletization methods and properties across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Pelletisation: The agglomeration process in which iron ore fines are rolled into spherical pellets.
Balling: The initial stage of pelletisation where moist ore and binder are formed into green pellets by tumbling.
Binder: An additive—commonly bentonite or organic polymers—used to impart cohesion among ore particles during pellet formation.
Induration: Thermal treatment that hardens green pellets into fired pellets by controlled sintering or oxidation.
Reducibility: The capacity of iron oxide pellets to be chemically reduced to metallic iron under specified conditions.
References
- Effect of Humic Acid Binder on the Preparation of Oxidized Pellets from Vanadium-Bearing Titanomagnetite Concentrate. Sustainability (2023).
- Bonding Mechanism and Process Characteristics of Special Polymers Applied in Pelletizing Binders. Coatings (2022).
- Improving the Properties of Magnetite Green Pellets with a Novel Organic Composite Binder. Materials (2022).
- A Review on the Effect of the Mechanism of Organic Polymers on Pellet Properties for Iron Ore Beneficiation. Polymers (2022).
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