3D SEQUENTIAL IMAGING AND ANALYSIS OF IRON ORE PELLETS UNDER REDUCTION BY X-RAY MICROTOMOGRAPHY

摘要

In this study, X-ray microtomography, combined with textural analysis, is used for 3D imaging of iron ore pellets and characterisation of interior cracks under a reduction process. The work is currently focused on the development of the methods and therefore the results mainly reflect the possibilities with the technique. Reduction experiments on a number of iron ore pellets were performed in 4 steps during the transformation from hematite to magnetite at 500°C. The pellet microstructure is imaged and visualized before reduction and after each subsequent reduction step using x-ray microtomography and the crack distribution characterized with image analysis.