Process for treating metallic starting materials for smelting plants, particularly iron sponge particles

Process for treating metallic starting materials for smelting plants, particularly iron sponge particles, for the purpose of protecting the particles against reoxidation and/or against corrosion as well as for the purpose of improving the melting characteristics of said particles, said process comprising applying on the iron sponge particles a coating of CaO as well as iron or iron oxides as an adhesion promoter and then spraying water onto said coating, characterized in that a second coating consisting of dust-shaped CaO and a carbon source, particularly coal dust such as brown coal dust, bituminous coal dust or anthracite dust, hydrocarbons or the like and, if desired, of iron oxides as well as, if desired, of alloying elements is applied in a further process step onto the coating essentially consisting of hydrated CaO and in that the second coating is humidified with a smaller amount of water than would be required for completely hydrating the CaO contained within the second coating.