Pilot scale test of producing nickel concentrate from low-grade saprolitic laterite by direct reduction-magnetic separation

The enrichment of Ni from a low-grade saprolitic laterite ore,which has been pre-treated by high pressure grinding roller（HPGR） to be 74% passing 0.074 mm and contains 0.92% Ni,18.47% Fe,10.61% MgO and 42.27% SiO2,was conducted by using pelletizing,rotary kiln reduction and magnetic separation process on a semi industrial scale,and the effects of reduction duration,mass ratio of coal to pellets（C/P）,the types of magnetic separator,the sections of grinding-separation and the grinding fineness on the recovery of Ni and Fe were examined.It is shown that nickel concentrate containing 3.13 % Ni and 59.20 % Fe was achieved at recoveries of 84.36 % and 71.51% for Ni and Fe,respectively under the following conditions：reducing at （1120±40） ℃ for 120 min,C/P being 1.0,wet grinding of reduced pellets up to 70%-87% passing 0.074 mm and a magnetic field intensity of 238.8 kA/m during the first section of grinding-magnetic separation,and a grinding fineness of 84%-91% passing 0.045 mm and a magnetic intensity of 39.8 kA/m during the second section of grinding-magnetic separation.The enriched Ni containing concentrate has a low content of S and P,and can be used for further processing to produce high-grade ferronickel alloy.

Lower fuel consumption model and air-flow segregation feeding system for sintering

In order to utilize the spontaneous accumulation of heat (SAH) reasonably and obtain the high quality sinter with low energy consumption, a lower fuel consumption modeling based on raw materials of a certain steel works was built. An air-flow segregation feeding (ASF) experimental equipment was designed to simulate strand feeding process and calculate the lower fuel consumption quantity. Compared with baseline test, the ASF experimental equipment was adopted. The results of sinter pot tests show that the solid fuel consumption is lower than that in baseline test, which is decreased by 5.8%. Meanwhile, other sinter indexes, such as pan yeild, tumbler strength and strand productivity are improved. The mineralogical examination indicates that the mineral compositions and micostructures are improved in sinter.

Effect of applied load on transition behavior of wear mechanism in Cu-15Ni-8Sn alloy under oil lubrication

Tribological behavior of Cu-15Ni-8Sn(mass fraction, %) alloy against GCr15 ring under various loads was investigated on a ring-on-block tester in oil lubrication. The results showed that the wear rate increased slowly from 1.7×10^(-7) to 9.8× 10^(-7) mm^3/mm under the load lower than 300 N, and then increased dramatically to the climax of 216×10^(-7) mm^3/mm under the load over 300 N, which indicated the transition of wear mechanism with the increase of applied load. The wear mechanism mainly was plastic deformation and abrasive wear under the load less than 300 N. As the applied load was more than 300 N, the wear mechanism of Cu-15Ni-8Sn alloy primarily was delamination wear. Besides, the transition can also be confirmed from the different morphologies of worn surface, subsurface and wear debris. It is distinctly indicated that the appearance of flaky debris at the applied load over 300 N may be a critical point for the change of wear mechanism.

Preparation and characterization of layered low-voltage ZnO varistors

Double-layered, low-voltage ZnO varistors have been fabricated by feeding two kinds of ZnO powders into a die using dry extrusion molding. Compared with ZnO varistors fabricated by the conventional route, the layered ZnO varistors have larger non-linear coefficients, lower breakdown electric fields, and lower leakage current densities. The improvement in electrical performance of the layered low-voltage ZnO varistors is attributed to the asymmetric band structure at grain boundary between the two layers.