Mineral powder binders play a significant role in the mineral processing and metallurgical industries, with a wide variety of types and extensive applications. The following is a multifaceted discussion on mineral powder binders.
Binders mainly include clay, bentonite, kaolin, cement, and water glass. These materials are widely used due to their abundant sources and low cost, particularly in the production of briquettes. These inorganic binders not only significantly enhance the thermal strength and thermal stability of briquettes but also effectively increase their ash content, though they generally lack good waterproofing properties. Among them, bentonite is widely utilized for its excellent binding ability, enabling briquettes to maintain good strength under both cold and hot conditions, with a high ash melting point. The typical addition amount is 6% to 8%.
In the metallurgical industry, bentonite is extensively applied in the production of iron ore pellets. Its primary function is to enhance the mechanical strength and heat resistance of the pellets. By adding an appropriate amount of bentonite to iron ore powder, the compressive strength and drop strength of the pellets can be significantly improved. Specifically, when the bentonite dosage is 2.5%, the green pellets' compressive strength can reach 14.8 N per pellet, and the drop strength reaches 3.7 times per 0.5 meters. After high-temperature roasting, the mechanical strength of the finished pellets is also enhanced.