An Investigation on sintering and semi-stabilization of Dolomite for Bhilai Steel Plant

Abstract

Dolomite is an important raw materials used for fettling and ramming in steel melting furnace. India possesses rich deposits of dolomite in different parts of the country. The Bhilai Steel Plant being erected with Russian Co-operation under the second Five Year Plan envisages the use of dolomite are reported to occur in the neighbourhood of Chatona Pendidih in Bilaspur District. It is essential that the quality of these dolomite should be studied for use as a refractory materials, before commencing large scale mining operations. With a view to utilising Chatona Pendidih dolomite deposit, the Bhilai Steel Plant authorities sent to the National Metallurgical Laboratory 3 tons of dolomite and one ton of iron ore from Bhilai area –iron ore to be used as a medium of sintering. A preliminary programme of work was given by the Bhilai Steel plant authorities (see Appendix I) specifying the grain size etc., but the details of the investigation and experiments for establishing optimum conditions for sintering were to be determined in the National Metallurgical Laboratory.