Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI)
What is HBI?
HBI was developed as a product in order to overcome the problems associated with shipping and handling of DRI – due to the process of compaction it is very much less porous and therefore very much less reactive than DRI and does not suffer from the risk of self-heating associated with DRI.
How is it produced?
See more on the HBI production process.
Looking to buy or sell OBMs?
The IIMA does not trade any metallics. Anyone looking to buy or sell metallics should search our members’ page to find IIMA member companies who deal with production and trade in metallics.
Uses and benefits
The principal market for HBI is Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking, but HBI also finds application as a trim coolant in Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) steelmaking and as blast furnace feedstock.
To read more about HBI uses and the benefits that it confers to these markets, please see our Fact Sheets:
Composition and characteristics of HBI
General characteristics for HBI (% by weight) based on 65.5 – 68.0% Fe iron ore.
Characteristic
Value
Metallisation
94.0%
Fe (Total)
88.3 – 94.0%
Fe (Metallic)
83.0 – 88.4%
C
0.5 – 1.6
S
0.001 – 0.03%
P2O5
0.005 – 0.09%
Gangue*
3.9 – 8.6%
Mn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mo, Sn, Pb, Zn
Traces
Size (typical)
(90 – 140) x (48 – 58) x (32 – 34) mm
Fines & chips
≤5.0%
Apparent density
>5.0 t/m3
Bulk density
2.5 – 3.3 t/m3
Shipping and handling of HBI
HBI – Direct Reduced Iron (A) – is classified as Group B (cargo with chemical hazard) and class MHB (material hazardous only in bulk) under the International Maritime Organisation’s International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code, but, unlike DRI which requires shipment under an inert atmosphere, HBI requires only surface ventilation during shipment.
Further information can be found in IIMA’s, HBI: A guide to shipping, handling and storage, below.
HBI resources
Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI): Quality Assessment Guide
Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI): A Guide to Shipping, Handling and Storage
Use of Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) in the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) for Steelmaking
Use of Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) in the Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) for Steelmaking
Use of Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) in the Blast Furnace (BF) for Hot Metal Production
More information on HBI
Read more about HBI’s uses and the benefits to these market in these fact sheets:
OBM production
Find out more information on how OBMs are produced.
Images courtesy of Midrex
Fact sheets on ore-based metallics
What are Ore-Based Metallics?
An overview of Ore-Based Metallics (OBMs), types, typical benefits in use and general specifications.
Use and Benefits of Ore-Based Metallics
A more detailed coverage of the benefits of using OBMs in EAF steelmaking.
Use of Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) in the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) for Steelmaking
Background to and advantages of use of HBI in the EAF and general characteristics.
Use of Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) in the Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) for Steelmaking
Background to and advantages of use of HBI in the BOF and general characteristics.
Use of Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) in the Blast Furnace (BF) for Hot Metal Production
Background to and reasons for use of HBI in the blast furnace and general characteristics.
Use of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) in the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) for Steelmaking
Background to and advantages of use of DRI in the EAF and general characteristics.
Use of Basic Pig Iron in the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) for Steelmaking
Background to and advantages of use of pig iron in the EAF and general characteristics.
Use of Granulated Pig Iron (GPI) in the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) for Steelmaking
Background to and advantages of use of GPI in the EAF and general characteristics.
Use of High Purity Pig Iron for Foundries Producing Ductile Iron Castings
Background to and benefits of using HPPI in production of ductile iron castings and general characteristics.
Use of Foundry Pig Iron in Grey Iron Castings
Background to and benefits of using Foundry Pig Iron in production of grey iron castings and general characteristics.
Relevance of Iron Ore to OBMs
Basic information about iron ore and its relevance to production of ore-based metallics.
Value-in-Use of Ore Based Metallics (OBMs) in EAF Steelmaking
An overview of the value-in-use concept and IIMA's model
Types of OBMs
Direct Reduced Iron (DRI)
DRI is the product of the direct reduction of iron ore in the solid state by carbon monoxide and hydrogen derived from natural gas or coal.
More about DRIHot Briquetted Iron (HBI)
HBI is a premium form of DRI that has been compacted at high temperature making it less reactive.
More about HBIPig Iron
Pig iron is the product of smelting iron ore (also ilmenite) with a high-carbon fuel and reductant such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux.
More about Pig IronGranulated Pig Iron (GPI)
Granulating excess pig iron produces a product GPI which can be used as BOF coolant or as feedstock for electric arc furnaces, cupolas and induction furnaces.
More about GPI