Why is the apparent density so much lower in sponge products than atomized steel products?
: Apparent density measurements are an indicator of how close particles pack together when not in a stressed mode. Sponge iron powder exhibits a lower apparent density (AD) than steel atomized powder due the different particle shapes each type of material possesses. To produce sponge iron, magnetite ore is directly reduced at elevated temperatures. The resulting powder contains internal porosity which is not present in steel atomized powder. So, the sponge particles tend to pack together with more unfilled space than the atomized particles, resulting in a lower apparent density.
