ISO 3271:2015

Iron ores for blast furnace and direct reduction feedstocks - Determination of the tumble and abrasion indices

ISO 3271:2015 specifies a method to provide a relative measure for evaluating the resistance of iron ores to size degradation by impact and abrasion. It covers the determination of the tumble and abrasion indices. This International Standard is applicable to lump ores, sinters, and hot-bonded pellets.

Minerais de fer pour charges de hauts fourneaux et pour procédés par réduction directe — Détermination des indices de cohésion et d'abrasion

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 03-Aug-2015
• ICS: 73.060.10 - Iron ores
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 102/SC 3 - Physical testing
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 102/SC 3 - Physical testing
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 20-Jan-2021
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Relations

• Revises: ISO 3271:2007 - Iron ores for blast furnace and direct reduction feedstocks - Determination of the tumble and abrasion indices
• Effective Date: 26-May-2012

Overview

ISO 3271:2015 is an international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that specifies a method to evaluate the resistance of iron ores to size degradation caused by impact and abrasion. This standard is crucial for assessing iron ores used as feedstocks in blast furnace and direct reduction processes. It defines procedures for determining the tumble index (TI) and abrasion index (AI), which provide a relative measure of the ore’s durability under handling and processing conditions.

Applicable to lump ores, sinters, and hot-bonded pellets, ISO 3271:2015 helps ensure consistent quality control and reliable evaluation across different laboratories worldwide. The standard outlines sampling, apparatus requirements, test procedures, and result reporting to foster reproducibility and accuracy.

Key Topics

• Tumble and Abrasion Indices

  • Tumble Index (TI): Represents the percentage of iron ore particles remaining above 6.30 mm after tumbling, indicating resistance to impact degradation.
  • Abrasion Index (AI): Indicates the percentage of fines smaller than 500 µm generated, reflecting susceptibility to abrasion.

• Sampling and Sample Preparation

  • Sampling follows ISO 3082 standards.
  • Test samples must be dried to constant mass and sieved within specific size ranges to ensure representativeness.

• Test Apparatus

  • Includes a tumble drum with precise dimensions and lifters, rotation equipment maintaining 25 revolutions per minute, calibrated sieves with 6.30 mm and 500 µm square apertures, and sensitive weighing devices.

• Testing Procedure

  • Tumbling of a test portion inside the drum for 200 revolutions.
  • Careful sieving of materials post-tumbling to separate size fractions.
  • Calculation of indices based on mass proportions of retained and fines.

• Result Expression and Repeatability

  • Results calculated using standard formulas for TI and AI, reported to one decimal place.
  • Repeatability criteria and acceptance procedures defined to validate test reliability.

• Safety and Quality Control

  • Emphasizes safe handling due to tumbling noise and dust.
  • Encourages routine verification of equipment performance and maintenance of detailed records.

Applications

ISO 3271:2015 plays a significant role in the iron and steel industry, especially for:

• Quality Control of iron ore feedstocks to blast furnaces and direct reduction units, ensuring material stability during transportation and processing.
• Contractual Specifications where suppliers and buyers require standardized test results to confirm ore durability.
• Research and Development projects focused on improving iron ore beneficiation and handling technology.
• Comparative Analysis of different ores to select optimal feedstock blends based on physical resistance to degradation.

By providing consistent, validated test methods, ISO 3271:2015 enables industry professionals to make informed decisions that reduce material loss and optimize furnace performance.

Related Standards

To comprehensively evaluate iron ores and ensure sample integrity, ISO 3271:2015 references several related ISO standards:

• ISO 3082 – Iron ores: Sampling and sample preparation procedures
• ISO 3310-1 and ISO 3310-2 – Test sieves: Technical requirements for metal wire cloth and perforated metal plate sieves
• ISO 11323 – Iron ore and direct reduced iron vocabulary, providing standardized terms for physical testing
• ISO 3086 – Testing procedures related to screening and sieving operations (for mechanical sieving validation)

Together, these interconnected standards establish a rigorous framework supporting reliable physical testing of iron ores for industrial use.

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Keywords: ISO 3271:2015, iron ore testing, tumble index, abrasion index, iron ore quality, blast furnace feedstock, direct reduction feedstock, physical testing of iron ores, iron ore abrasion resistance, iron ore degradation test, ISO iron ore standards, iron ore sample preparation

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 3271
Fifth edition
2015-08-01
Iron ores for blast furnace and
direct reduction feedstocks —
Determination of the tumble and
abrasion indices
Minerais de fer pour charges de hauts fourneaux et pour procédés par
réduction directe — Détermination des indices de cohésion et d’abrasion
Reference number
©
ISO 2015
© ISO 2015, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
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ii © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 1
5 Sampling, sample preparation, and preparation of test portions . 1
5.1 Sampling and sample preparation . 1
5.2 Preparation of test portions . 2
6 Apparatus . 2
6.1 General . 2
7 Procedure. 3
7.1 Number of determinations for the test . 3
7.2 Tumbling . 3
7.3 Sieving . 3
8 Expression of results . 3
8.1 Calculation of the tumble index (TI) and abrasion index (AI) . 3
8.2 Repeatability and acceptance of test results . 4
9 Test report . 4
10 Verification . 4
Annex A (normative) Flowsheet of the procedure for the acceptance of test results .6
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical Barriers
to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information.
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 102, Iron ore and direct reduced iron, Subcommittee
SC 3, Physical testing.
This fifth edition cancels and replaces the fourth edition (ISO 3271:2007), of which it constitutes a minor
revision to contemplate the care needed during hand sieving, to introduce the mechanical sieving, and
to exclude the reference to ISO 4701.
iv © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

Introduction
This International Standard concerns one of a number of physical test methods that have been
developed to measure various physical parameters and to evaluate the behaviour of iron ores, including
reducibility, disintegration, crushing strength, apparent density, etc. This method was developed to
provide a uniform procedure, validated by collaborative testing, to facilitate comparisons of tests made
in different laboratories.
The results of this test have to be considered in conjunction with other tests used to evaluate the quality
of iron ores as feedstocks for blast furnace and direct reduction processes.
This International Standard can be used to provide test results as part of a production quality-control
system, as a basis of a contract, or as part of a research project.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 3271:2015(E)
Iron ores for blast furnace and direct reduction feedstocks —
Determination of the tumble and abrasion indices
CAUTION — This International Standard may involve hazardous operations and equipment. This
International Standard does not purport to address all of the safety issues associated with its use.
It is the responsibility of the user of this International Standard to establish appropriate safety
and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to its use.
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies a method to provide a relative measure for evaluating the
resistance of iron ores to size degradation by impact and abrasion. It covers the determination of the
tumble and abrasion indices.
This International Standard is applicable to lump ores, sinters, and hot-bonded pellets.
2 Normative references
The follo
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