Rate of melting of partly reduced iron pellets into iron melt was obtained by measuring CO gas evolved. The effects of composition of pellets as well as temperature and carbon content of iron melt on their melting rate into the melt have been investigated. The following results are obtained:
(1) Apparent activation energy of melting of reduced iron pellets containing 0, 10, 20 and 40% Fe2O3 was 33 kcal/mol.
(2) Without slag melt on the iron melt, the maximum melting rate of pellets containing 10, 20 and 40% Fe2O3 was obtained at about 3.3, 3.0 and 2.5% carbon contents respectively.
(3) Melting rate was proportional to -0.5 power of Fe2O3 content at the range of 15-60%Fe2O3, increased at 2-10% Fe2O3 and decreased above 70% Fe2O3.
(4) CaO, CaCO3 or C of 2-5% as addititive increased the melting rate of pellets, but addition of Al2O3 or SiO2 decreased it extremely. Simultaneous addition of CaO and SiO2 (CaO/SiO2=1) and addition of pre-fused slag whose melting point was low decreased the melting rate slightly up to 5%, and their content in pellets should be limited within 15%.
