Abstract:
In order to provide a solution which provides a direct reduced iron product which has an improved performance in respect to its capability to be transported over long distances and in respect to its melting properties in primary metallurgical steel making processes and which is suitable as a scrap substituting material, a method for producing a capsulated pressed reduced iron compound (5) is proposed, which compound (5) is completely encapsulated by a, preferably metallic, covering embodying material (4), wherein the method comprises the steps of reducing iron ore in an iron ore direct reduction shaft furnace and subjecting a certain amount of the thus obtained reduced iron or sponge iron (2) to a cold briquetting or cold forming process executed in a forming device, wherein the certain amount of reduced iron or of sponge iron (2) is delivered to at least one mould arranged in the forming device, is exposed to a compressive force and press-formed to constitute the capsulated pressed reduced iron compound (5) having a shape corresponding to the form provided by the at least one mould arranged in the forming device and having an apparent density of greater than 5.0 g/cm 3 , and wherein the certain amount of reduced iron or sponge iron(2) is completely encapsulated either by means of the covering embodying material (4) being provided before or during the certain amount of reduced iron or sponge iron is exposed to the compressive force or by means of the covering embodying material (4) being provided immediately after the certain amount of reduced iron or sponge iron (2) is press-formed to embody the form of the iron compound (5). During above process certain additives and/or CDRI fines and/or non-contaminant metal chips and/or secondary metallurgy additives in defined ratios could be included in the invented capsulated pressed reduced iron compound (5) CAPRI.