Phenol based novalac, resol and the blend of both resins were used as binders in briquette production from coke breeze. The effects of the amount of catalyst on the tensile strength of the cured briquette were studied. The results obtained have indicated that the highest tensile strength could not be attained unless the blend of novalac and resol was used as binder. The most suitable blend was the binder prepared from the hydrochloric acid catalyzed novalac of F/P=0.5 and the N/P=0.3 catalyzed resol of F/P=2.0. When this blend was used as a binder the tensile strength of the cured briquettes did not drop even if they were carbonized at 470 degrees C and 570 degrees C. Their strengths at these carbonization temperatures were 67 MPa and 72 MPa respectively, and the rise in the temperature resulted in some increase in their strength. These results show the fact that as the formed coke briquettes descends from the top of the blast furnace, the rise in temperature will not deteriorate their strength; it will probably improve their properties. Therefore, only curing at 200 C for 2 h will be sufficient for the briquettes to be used as substitute for metallurgical coke in the blast furnace. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.