Improving iron ore agglomeration by studying underlying mechanisms using experimental studies and dimensional analysis

目前，澳大利亚铁矿石出口收入超过150亿美元。超过80%的运输矿石是细粉（即小于9毫米的材料），必须在炼铁高炉还原和熔炼之前烧结以生产硫产品。从根本上理解这一过程，对于提高澳大利亚在主要贸易伙伴中的技术地位至关重要，也就是说，使澳大利亚铁矿石出口商成为“知识型”供应商。此外，当地的炼铁工业将从开发的改进的烧结工艺中获得直接的经济利益。

The revenue from Australia's iron ore exports is currently worth over $15 billion. Over 80% of the shipped ores are fines (ie material smaller than 9mm), which have to be sintered to produce a lumpy product prior to reduction and smelting in iron making blast furnaces. An understanding of this process at the fundamental level is essential for enhancement of the nation's technological standing with our key trading partners - that is, to enable Australian iron-ore exporters to become 'knowledgable' suppliers. In addition, local iron-making industries will gain direct economic benefit from the improved sintering processes developed.