PROPERTIES AND REACTIONS EXHIBITED BY ANTHRACITE LITHOTYPES UNDER THERMAL STRESS

Special Research Report SR-11 Particles of anthracite that differ by virtue of their physical appearance, their petrography, have been subjected to therm.al stress in the range 20 to 980°C. Previous studies of the decrepitation phenomena exhibited by anthracite have failed to consider the basic differences evidenced by petrographic composition. Visual observation of distinct entities has shown that not all anthracite behaves in like fashion. Indeed certain constituents or grain types show a marked resistance to thermal stress and therefore are worthy of further investigation. Relation of these varying resistances to larger scale work is imperative. Preheat treatment of varying types {rate and ultimate temperature) has shown that there is definite value inherent in this procedure. Further work is necessary to define the optimum rate and ultimate temperature that can be most economically employed.