Effect of B2O3 on the carbothermal reduction of vanadium titanium magnetite

The effect of B2O3 on the carbothermal reduction of vanadium titanium magnetite was investigated under different temperatures by isothermal experiments. XRD analysis, SEM analysis and kinetic analysis were used to reveal the mechanism of B2O3 in the reduction process. The results showed that B2O3 could accelerate the reduction rate of vanadium titanium magnetite, and the suitable addition amount was 3%. B2O3 was easy to melt during carbothermal reduction, B3+ diffused into the crystal lattice of ferrotitanium compound, resulting in a decrease in binding energy and an increase in lattice parameters. B2O3 had also an erosion effect on the surface of the iron ore, and the contact area between reducing agent CO and vanadium titanium magnetite increased, thereby promoting the reduction. Low melting point compound CaO ∙ B2O3 formed after adding B2O3, which could improve the fluidity of the system and change the melting point of non-ferrous phase to further promote the growth and aggregation of iron particles. The reduction process was firstly limited by the first-order chemical reaction, then it was controlled by three-dimensional diffusion of reactants. The activation energy calculated by the best model was smaller than that of without adding B2O3.