Information content of methods of determining coke reactivity

The reactivity of coke plays an important role in blast-furnace smelting. The reaction of carbon in coke with oxygen generates the heat required for various chemical reactions in the blast furnace. The reaction of carbon in coke with carbon dioxide and water vapor forms carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which reduce the iron and alloying elements from their oxides. As a result of these reactions, the strength of the coke pieces in the blast furnace is reduced, and they break down more as they move in the furnace batch, with consequent decrease in gas permeability of the batch column.