Correspondence between the composition and plastic properties of British coals and the structural properties and reactivity of the corresponding cokes

The chemical composition and the physico-chemical properties of a suite of British coals, mainly of types 501/2 as defined by the NCB classification, but including some coals of higher and lower rank (NCB classification 204,401/2 and 601/2), were comprehensively investigated. Each coal was subsequently carbonized under controlled conditions of size distribution, bulk density and temperature on the 250 kg scale and the tensile strength, coke structure and coke reactivity were determined. This data highlighted the significance of the atomic ratio of the oxygen and carbon of the coals and the lack of relations between coal properties and coke structure and strength. As regards coke reactivity only complex relations with coal properties could be found, with coal rank, the oxygen/carbon ratio and the chlorine content being of greatest importance.