Method of Determining the Liquid Phase Content in the Pelletized Charge for Producing Compacts with the Maximum Strength II. Development of the Method

Researchers of the Nekrasov Iron & Steel Institute, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, conduct studies aimed at developing analytical methods for predicting the strength characteristics of pellets. These studies use analyses of phase interaction mechanisms within free-flowing media to develop theoretical ideas on the formation of strong bonds in the pellets through adhesion. This led to the establishment of local models of adhesion processes for two basic particle interaction schemes: ‘particle + particle’ and ‘particle + liquid phase + particle’. Experimental studies undertaken in laboratory premises of the Nekrasov Iron & Steel Institute for the ‘particle + particle’ interaction scheme provided the foundation for a method to determine the strength characteristics of pellets made from fine-grained materials with zero moisture at compaction pressures ranging from 50 to 220 MPa. The first part of the paper justified methodological prerequisites for experiments to study strong bonds within the compacts for the ‘particle + liquid phase + particle’ interaction scheme. The methodological prerequisites accounted for the mechanical, physical, and physicochemical interactions, both between individual particles of the pelletized material and between the charge components (liquid phase). A generalized analysis of the experimental findings allowed evaluating a range of potential adhesion processes for the ‘particle + liquid phase + particle’ interaction scheme, pinpointing their manifestation, examining their nature, and assessing the effect of a liquid phase introduced into the pelletized charge, considering the compaction pressures applied. This paper focuses on experimental findings for the ‘particle + liquid phase + particle’ interaction scheme, establishing analytical relationships between the strength characteristics of pellets and integral indicators of the adhesive bond mechanism in this interaction scheme (in particular, relationship between the bulk density (ρ₀) and moisture content (W_m) for materials in the first group of systematization). Additionally, an analytical relationship between the compaction factor for compacts produced at a pressure (P) of 220 MPa (K_comp220), considering their loosening, and the bulk density of materials (ρ₀) in the first group of systematization was established for the first time. Analysis of the findings led to a hypothesis suggesting that the amount of the liquid phase (in particular, water) introduced into the material should be balanced by its potential displacement during compaction to achieve maximum compact strength. Based on the hypothesis, a novel equation was derived to calculate the amount of liquid binder (water) to promote the most favorable conditions for the adhesion processes, thereby imparting the maximum strength to compacts from materials in the first group of systematization. A comparative analysis between the experimental findings and calculations confirmed that the equation was accurate. Consequently, an analytical method was proposed to determine the moisture content needed in the charge to produce compacts with maximum strength from materials in the first group of systematization (ρ_pycn ≥ 4.64 × × 10^–3).