Field
Binder for green pellets, holding them through balling, handling and drying.
Bentonite is the working binder in iron ore pelletizing. Added at a fraction of a percent of the concentrate, it takes up free moisture and gives the green pellet enough wet and dry strength to survive the balling disc, the conveyors, the drop onto the grate and the drying zone without breaking down into fines.
What a pellet plant is buying is the lowest dosage that still reaches its green strength target, because every kilogram of binder carries silica and alumina into the furnace as gangue. Grade selection follows the concentrate: its moisture, its fineness and its chemistry.
