Some Properties and Degrading Patterns of Materials in a Blast Furnace Shaft

Abstract

An investigation was made on properties of materials (sinter, are and pellet) taken from various levels and positions on the radii of the shaft in four blast furnaces of Muroran Works. Degrading properties of these materials were discussed by the comparison of the results obtained from the blast furnace with these from an experimental apparatus designed for analogy in the conditions of shaftregion.
Remarkable informations were conducted as follows.
1) Excessive size degradation of sinter and are was found at upper level of the shaft. At lower level, these mean size fell by 2-6mm.
2) Degree of reduction of sinter, are and pellet was found to be about equal throughout the shaft.
3) Degradation of sinter was characterized by the pattern of bulk degrading mechanism, in view of the facts that many cracks were formed all over the inner grain and the sinter was broken to small pieces.
4) Degradation of both are and pellet was characterized by the pattern of surface degrading mechanisni, in view of the facts that many cracks were formed on their surfaces and fine are and pellet were produced.
5) The degree of degradation of the materials observed in the experimental apparatus coincided with that observed in the shaft region. It was assured that the result of the experimental apparatus was able to be used for evaluation of the nature of degradation.