ASTM E279 – 97 Method for Determination of Abrasion Resistance of Iron Ore Pellets and Sinter by the Tumbler Test

ASTM E279 – 97 test method is a comparative method intended primarily to test materials of Iron Ore for compliance with compositional specifications or monitoring. This test method monitors the feed to blast furnaces for process control. Tumbler Apparatus is used to perform this test method.

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ASTM E279 – 97 Method for Determination of Abrasion Resistance of Iron Ore Pellets and Sinter by the Tumbler Test

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Overview
Scope, Applications, and Benefits
Test Process
Specifications
Instrumentation
Results and Deliverables

Overview

The “Tumbler Test” is a mechanical process that simulates the physical pressures that iron ore minerals experience, such as impact and abrasion. In this test, a circular tumbler drum with internal lifters (L-shaped steel angles) is filled with a precise mass of the sample. The drum is spun at a constant speed for a predetermined number of revolutions, typically 200.

The material is lifted and dropped as the drum rotates, causing the particles to impact the drum walls and each other. The sample is removed and sieved to assess the level of deterioration upon completion of the rotation.

Scope, Applications, and Benefits

Scope

ASTM E279 – 97 covers a standardized tumbler test method for determining the abrasion resistance of iron ore pellets and sinter. The test evaluates the tendency of these materials to generate fines under mechanical handling and impact, simulating conditions encountered during transportation, storage, and charging into blast furnaces or direct reduction units. The result is expressed as an abrasion index or percentage of fines generated after tumbling under specified conditions.

Applications

Quality assessment of iron ore pellets and sinter.
Process control in pellet plants and sinter plants.
Acceptance testing for supply to steel plants.
Evaluation of material suitability for blast furnace and DRI operations.
Research and development of improved agglomeration techniques.

Benefits

Provides a quantitative measure of the abrasion resistance of pellets and sinter.
Helps predict fines generation during handling and transport.
Supports quality control and consistency in iron ore agglomerates.
Enables comparison of products from different sources or production batches.
Assists in optimizing pelletizing and sintering process parameters.

Testing Process

Sample Collection

Obtain a representative sample of iron ore pellets or sinter in accordance with standard sampling practice.

Sample Preparation

Remove undersized material and condition the sample as specified in the standard.

Sample Weighing

Accurately weigh the prepared test sample before testing.

Result Reporting

Record and report the abrasion index along with test conditions.

Technical Specifications

Parameter	Details
Test Material	Iron ore pellets and sinter
Sample Mass	As specified in ASTM E279
Drum Rotation Speed	Specified constant speed (rpm)
Number of Revolutions	As specified in the standard
Test Duration	Based on the number of revolutions
Abrasion Index	Percentage of fines generated

Instrumentation Used

Tumbler drum or tumbler testing machine
Drive motor with speed control
Sieves of specified mesh sizes
Mechanical sieve shaker
Analytical balance
Sample collection trays or containers

Results and Deliverables

Abrasion resistance is expressed as the percentage of fines generated during the tumbler test.
A lower percentage of fines indicates higher abrasion resistance of pellets or sinter.
Results reflect the material’s ability to withstand handling, transport, and charging operations.
Consistent results indicate uniform quality and good mechanical strength of the agglomerates.
Data can be used to compare different batches, sources, or process conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

ASTM E279 is a standard test method developed by ASTM International for measuring the resistance of materials to the effects of a specific type of exposure, typically related to environmental conditions.

Abrasion resistance is essential for iron ore pellets and sinter because excessive fines generation can lead to poor gas permeability in the blast furnace, reducing efficiency and increasing costs.

This test method is widely used in the iron and steel industry to assess the quality and durability of iron ore pellets and sinters used in blast furnaces. The results are used for quality control in pelletizing and sintering plants and to ensure that the materials meet the required specifications for ironmaking.

The sieve analysis after the Tumbler test captured the nearest 0.1 % as the percent on the 1⁄4-in. (6.3-mm) sieve and the percent passing the No. 30 (600-μm) sieve.

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