Production of iron powder from ferrous chloride by hydrogen reduction

The importance of iron powder is indicated and the possibilities of production from ferrous chloride by pyrometallurgical methods are discussed. The bench scale experiments carried out at the National Metallurgical Laboratory are described and the process parameters such as the effect of temperature, hydrogen flow rate, reaction rates, briquetting pressure and particle sizes have been presented. The industrial potential for indigenous production based upon the experiments conducted and proposed subsequent scaled up research and development work has been indicated. (A.K. Saha, A. Kumar, D.D. Akerkar and M.J. Shahani)