Observation on growth of iron whisker in gas-based direct reduction process of iron ore fines

A five-stage horizontal heating furnace was applied to the direct reduction experiment of five different sizes of CYRD ore at different temperatures and atmospheres.The ore samples with different surface particle morphologies under various conditions were obtained after reduction.Metallization rate testing and microstructure analysis were done for them under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that different reduction conditions have important influence on the morphology of mineral particles and the growth of the iron whiskers on the surface of the particles during the reduction process. Thus the reduction of the ore power particle and the particle surface morphology can be controlled by the control of the reduction conditions. Findings indicate that the reduction condition of the iron ore particles and the surface morphology of the particles can be controlled by the reduction conditions so as to improve the bonding conditions of the particles in the gas-based direct reduction.