TITLE:
Characterization of Cold Briquetted Iron (CBI) By X-Ray Diffraction Technique
AUTHORS:
S. A. Ibitoye, A. A. Afonja
KEYWORDS:
Cold Briquetted Iron, XRD, Melting Furnace, Iron (II) Oxide, Slag
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.7 No.1,
March
20,
2008
ABSTRACT: This study focuses on the characterization of cold briquetted iron (CBI) using powder
diffraction techniques. CBI is under-sized metallic fines produced during the direct reduction
process (DR-process), which are made into briquettes when they are cold using sodium silicate
and lime as binder and flux respectively. Powder sample of CBI was prepared by crushing and
grinding some of the briquettes and sieved through 30-microns aperture. Thereafter, the
constituent phases in the sample were identified using X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD)
techniques and scanning electron microscopy. It was observed that CBI includes among others,
67% metallic iron, 23% cementite, 5% silica and 5% wustite. It was also noted that the
concentrations of the constituent phases were not uniformly distributed. The spherical quartz
particles were found to be concentrated along the crack lines, which were suspected to be
initiator of these cracks and crevices that characterize CBI.