The process of sponge iron manufacturing involves removal of oxygen from iron ore. When that happens, the departing oxygen causes micro pores in the ore body, turning it porous. When the eventual product is observed under a microscope, it resembles a honeycomb structure, which looks spongy in texture. Hence the name sponge iron.
Sponge iron is an iron source relatively uniform in composition, and virtually free from tramp elements. It is used increasingly in Electric Arc and Induction furnaces to dilute the contaminants present in the scrap used in these processes. It has an associated energy value in the form of combined carbon, which has a tendency to increase furnace efficiency. For captive DRI production facilities, there is an added advantage that the delivery of hot DRI to the furnace can reduce energy consumption to 16 - 20%.
These are the properties of sponge iron being produced.
|Gangue content||5 (approx.)|
|A. Physical (Size)|
|Bulk density||1.9-2.2 MT / m3|