1.College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; 2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla 65401, USA
Abstract:The chemical analysis, as well as thermogravimetric, differential thermal analysis and Xray diffraction analysis were firstly carried out for Indonesian nickeliferous laterite to understand the drying and sintering mechanism. The dehydration of laterite could be divided into steps of removing free water, crystal water and hydroxyl group at different temperature. The sintering experiment of laterite with different carbon content were carried out, and the effect of carbon content on sintering velocity, agglomeration ratio, mass loss, temperatures of off gas and yield was studied. The Xray diffraction and SEM results showed that pyroxene ((Mg,Fe)SiO3) and magnesiowustite (Mg(Ni)Fe2O4) were the main adhesives in the sinter.