Factors affecting the mechanics of carbonized wood: literature review

Abstract

The influence of wood properties, such as basic density, moisture content, dimensions of the pieces, chemical composition, anatomy, as well as parameters of the carbonization process, like final peak temperature, heating rate and pressure on the mechanics of charcoal used as a reductant in iron blast furnaces, was reviewed. The quality of charcoal for steelmaking is directly related to the wood quality from which it originated. The adoption of a homogeneous raw material allows a more regular behavior of the furnace, thus increasing the efficiency of the reduction process and consequently decreasing product consumption. The control of pyrolysis parameters such as the final temperature, the heating rate and the pressure contributes to an increase in the mechanical resistance of charcoal, thus improving the efficiency of the thermoreducer and contributing to a better use of energetic forests. A significant increase in the mechanics of charcoal is achieved by carbonization at a final temperature above 500 °C. Future research should focus on operating conditions of pressure and heating rate as a means of optimizing the mechanics of charcoal from wood.