Influence of CeO2 on the roasting behavior and compressive strength of Fe2O3 briquettes

By means of briquetting-preheating-roasting, Fe2O3 briquette samples containing CeO2 were prepared. The mechanism of the influence of CeO2 content on the compressive strength of briquette samples was analyzed by X-ray diffraction(XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the Ce-Fe-O solid solution is formed in briquette samples preheated at 975℃,which promotes the connection of Fe2O3 grains and enhances the compressive strength of preheated briquettes. The Ce-Fe-O solid solution decomposes in briquette samples roasted at 1250℃, and CeO2 with high-melting-point distributes between Fe2O3 grains which hinder the growth of Fe2O3 crystal stocks. Therefore, the compressive strength of the roasted briquettes decreases with increasing the CeO2 content.