Exploring the Relationship Between Fe-rich SFCA and SFCA-III and Their Presence in Sinter Strand and Pot-grate Sinter

Abstract

Using the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns collected on the products of laboratory furnace experiments performed on a synthetic iron ore sinter mixture with composition 77.36% Fe₂O₃, 14.08% CaO, 3.56% SiO₂ and 5.00% Al₂O₃, it is demonstrated that the previously reported Fe-rich SFCA phase has the same crystal structure as triclinic SFCA-III. Therefore, the four principal members of the silico-ferrite of calcium and aluminium (SFCA) family are SFCA, SFCA-I, SFCA-II, and SFCA-III. In addition, using XRD patterns collected for sinter strand and pot-grate sinter samples supplied as part of a sinter analysis round robin the presence of the SFCA-III phase in industrial sinter is confirmed for the first time, with important implications for sinter characterisation and research.