STUDY OF ENERGY ASPECTS OF COLD BRIQUETTING FOR SHH15 STEEL DUST UNDER VARYING PRESS CONDITIONS

The article reports the outcomes of a practical study into the cold briquetting of powdered residue ShH15 steel cutting debris. Through the analysis of compaction behavior, three sequential stages were identified: an initial elastic compression phase, followed by fragmentation and densification, and concluding with plastic consolidation forming a solid briquette structure. The pressing procedure was conducted at ambient temperature using equipment equipped with an adjustable matrix configuration. Resultant compacts achieved relative densities in the range of 90–91 % of theoretical values under forces up to 850 kN and corresponding pressures of 450–500 MPa. The specific energy input required for material deformation was estimated at 2.6–2.8 kJ/g. The results validate the feasibility of utilizing unprocessed steel waste through energy-efficient compaction, eliminating the need for thermal pretreatment. In addition to improving material utilization efficiency, the proposed method supports broader sustainability goals by enabling low-cost, low-energy recycling of industrial residues. These findings may serve as a foundation for scaling cold briquetting processes to industrial applications, especially in contexts where thermal methods are economically or environmentally impractical. Keywords: briquetting, ShH15 steel, steel dust, energy efficiency, deformation diagram, recycling, pressing pressure, compaction behavior.