Phase Reconstruction and Microstructure Evolution of Magnesia-carbon Refractories at High Temperatures in Nitrogen

Magnesia-carbon refractories were prepared using fused magnesia,flake graphite and metal aluminum powder as starting materials,phenolic resin as the binder,heat-treating at 1300-1600℃in nitrogen atmosphere.The phase reconstruction and the microstructure evolution of the obtained magnesia-carbon refractories were analyzed.The formation mechanisms of magnesia crystals with different morphologies by chemical vapor deposition were revealed.The results show that at 1300-1500℃,the non-oxides within the specimens are aluminum carbide(Al_(4)C_(3)),aluminum nitride(AlN)and magnesium aluminum nitride(Mg_(3)Al_(n)N_(n+2),n=2 or 3);at 1600℃,the diffraction characteristic peak intensity of Al_(4)C_(3) and AlN decreases sharply,and sharp diffraction characteristic peaks of nitrogen aluminum carbide(Al_(7)C_(3)N_(3))appear.Mg(g)is produced by the aluminothermic reduction and carbothermal reduction of magnesia.On the surface of the specimens,Mg(g)reacts with oxygen to form MgO whiskers.Inside the specimens,Mg(g)and O_(2)(g)undergo a CVD chemical deposition reaction to form cubic MgO crystals.There is a phase relationship between flake AlN and flake Mg3AlnNn+2,and they are so associated with each other that the morphology is difficult to distinguish.