Bloomery Processing of Oxidized Magnesia Nickel Ores

Resumo

The bloomery reduction roasting of oxidized magnesia nickel ores with flux additions, which is intended to manufacture ferronickel, is studied. The influence of the charge composition, the roasting temperature, and the iron content in slag on the technological properties of slag and the coarsening of metallic particles with the formation of ferronickel balls is investigated. The challenging problems related to the characteristic features of bloomery process, in particular, the formation of slag skull in the temperature range 1000–1250°C during reduction roasting in a rotary kiln, and approaches to their elimination are discussed in detail.