CHARACTERIZATION OF PETROLEUM COKE AS AN ADDITIVE IN METALLURGICAL COKEMAKING - INFLUENCE ON METALLURGICAL COKE QUALITY

The relevance of petroleum coke activity during the plastic stage in c ocarbonization with a low-volatile bituminous coal was assessed by est ablishing differences in lowering of Gieseler maximum fluidity of the blend (bituminous coal and petroleum coke) and in metallurgical coke q uality. Differences in fluidity of the blend were well correlated with parameters used in petroleum coke characterization such as hydrogen d onor ability, the volatile matter released between 400 and 500 degrees C, and the ratio of methyl and methylene groups in aromatic clusters, The metallurgical cokes were produced in a laboratory oven from blend s of petroleum coke-bituminous coal and, then, characterized in terms of abrasion strength and reactivity to CO2. There is a clear relation between the chemical activity of petroleum coke in cocarbonization sys tems with coal and improvements in metallurgical coke quality. The abi lity of petroleum coke to interact with coal during the plastic stage contributes to good bonding between components as evidenced by the qua ntitative study of interfaces by optical microscopy.