A novel measurement of voidage in coke and ferrous layers in softening and melting under load test using synchrotron x-ray and neutron computed tomography

For the first time, the bed voidage of samples from interrupted softening and melting (S and M) under load tests was measured directly using computed tomography (CT). The large size, fused structure and high metallic iron content of the samples required the very high energy synchrotron X-ray source for scanning; samples produced at higher temperatures, e.g., 1450°C, required neutron CT to allow adequate penetration of the samples. This method was able to uniquely and accurately identify the volumes, distributions, and structures of coke, ferrous, and void in the Sand M samples, and quantify the tortuosity of the voids. This information is critical for analysis of the pressure drop-contraction relationship in the S and M under load test, and will allow the improvement of the treatment of the cohesive zone in numerical models of the blast furnace.