Abstract: Fuel briquettes are made by blending a caking coal with pitch at a temperature above 100.degree. C. but below 200.degree. C. to form a pitch/coal alloy binder which is then hot-blended with any caking coke, especially petroleum coke and optionally finely-divided limestone. The pressed briquettes are then subjected to hardening heat treatment and are found to be resistent to mechanical deterioration on long-term storage.

Abstract: Raw material bodies such as briquettes, for use in the production of silicon or silicon alloys, are formed by mixing a pitch and caking coal at a temperature above 100.degree. C. and up to 200.degree. C. to form a pitch/coal alloy. This hot binder composition is mixed with sand and a noncaking carbon carrier at a temperature in this range to form the starting composition from which preforms are pressed. The preforms are subjected to a heat treatment which involves raising the temperature to above 450.degree. C., preferably in a sand filled rotary furnace to harden the preforms into the bodies.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the preparation of green briquettes for the production of silicon or silicon carbide or ferrosilicon in electric pit furnaces, quartz sand, a carbon carrier and a bituminous binder being mixed together, the mixture being shaped into blanks from which the green briquettes are formed by heat treatment. The process is performed with the use of blanks which are free from melted bituminous caking coal and whose specific weight is made greater than the bulk density of quartz sand by adjustment of the proportions of the mixture and by compacting. The blanks are introduced for the heat treatment into a heated rotating drum furnace whose lower part is filled with quartz sand to an extent such that the heat treatment proceeds in a dip bed of quartz sand.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the preparation of green briquettes for the production of silicon or silicon carbide or ferrosilicon in electric pit furnaces, quartz sand, a carbon carrier and a bituminous binder being mixed together, the mixture being shaped into blanks from which the green briquettes are formed by heat treatment. The process is performed with the use of blanks which are free from melted bituminous caking coal and whose specific weight is made greater than the bulk density of quartz sand by adjustment of the proportions of the mixture and by compacting. The blanks are introduced for the heat treatment into a heated rotating drum furnace whose lower part is filled with quartz sand to an extent such that the heat treatment proceeds in a dip bed of quartz sand.