Two Nigerian coals, Lafia-Obi and Chikila were blended in the mass ratio of 70:30 with
imported American and Polish coking coals. Proximate analysis, free swelling index, Ruhr
dilatometer and Gieseler plastometer were used in assessing the coking qualities of both the
single coals and the blends. The results show that the blends are lower in moisture and ash
contents; higher in volatile matter and fixed carbon than the single Nigerian coals. The
rheological parameters revealed superiority in thermo-plastic properties of the blends over the
unblended local coals. Lafia-Obi/Foreign coals blends possess lower ash and better rheological
properties compared to Chikila/Foreign coal composites which have high ash and poor
rheological properties. These together suggest that amongst the two Nigerian coals, Lafia-Obi is
superior for blending with the foreign ones in metallurgical coke production.
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