Effect of H_(2)O_(2) Addition on Anti-explosion Performance of p-Al_(2)O_(3) Bonded Corundum Castables

In order to improve the anti-explosion performance ofρ-Al_(2)O_(3) bonded corundum castables,H_(2)O_(2) was added(0,0.025%,0.050%,0.075%,0.100%and 0.125%,by mass)as the anti-explosion agent.After mixing and casting,specimens were prepared.Some specimens were cured at room temperature for 12 h and demoulded for the anti-explosion performance test at different temperatures(450,500,550,600,650,700,750 and 800℃);the other specimens were cured,dried and fired,and tested in terms of the apparent porosity,the density,the cold mechanical properties,the air permeability and the pore size distribution.The results show that:(1)with the increase of the H_(2)O_(2) addition,the anti-explosion performance of castables increases gradually,the average pore size increases gradually,and the density and the strength decrease gradually;(2)by comprehensive consideration,the appropriate addition of H_(2)O_(2) shall be within 0.075%.

Effect of Zirconia Corundum Addition on Properties of Chrome Corundum Castables

In order to investigate the effect of zirconia corundum on the preparation of chrome corundum castables,samples were prepared using tabular corundum,white fused corundum,active alumina micropowder,chromium oxide micropowder and fused ziconia corundum particles as the main raw materials,and pure calcium aluminate cement as the binder.The effects of the fused zirconia corundum particles addition(1-0.5 mm,0,4.5%,9%,and 18%,by mass)on the linear change rate,the apparent porosity,the cold modulus of rupture,and the thermal shock resistance of chrome corundum castables were studied,and the microstructure of the samples was analyzed.The results show that:(1)with the zirconia corundum addition increasing,the permanent linear change on heating of the samples gradually increases,the apparent porosity gradually increases,the cold modulus of rupture gradually decreases,and the thermal shock resistance gradually increases;(2)according to SEM,it can be found that the phase transformation of ZrO2 after heat treatment leads to a large number of microcracks in the material.On one hand,the cold modulus of rupture of the material is reduced;on the other hand,the thermal shock resistance of the material is improved.

Effects of Nano Calcium Carbonate on Strength and Microstructure of Corundum-based Castables

The castables specimens were prepared using white fused alumina particle and powder, α-Al2O3 micropowder, hydrated alumina, nano calcium carbonate or calcium aluminate cement as starting materials. Effects of nano calcium carbonate addition on phase compositions, strength and microstructure of corundum based castables were studied. The calcium aluminate cement-containing corundum based castables with the same CaO amount was also tested for comparison. The results show that, when temperature is higher than 900 ℃ , the phase compositions of nano CaCO3-containing mixture and the calcium aluminate cement containing mixture are the same, but the forming mechanism, modality and distribution of new phases in the castables are different. With temperature rising, the hydration cement dehydrates and reacts inside cement forming calcium aluminate until the alumina in cement is not enough for the reaction （ternperature is 91 400 ℃ ） , then reacts with the surrounding alumina forming cluster CA6 in the castables. The change process of nano CaCO3 in corundum based enstables is that nano calcium carbonate decomposes to CaO after firing at 800℃ which reacts with Al2O3 forming amorphous calcium aluminate that causes an in-situ bonding. With temperature rising, the formed calcium aluminate reacts with Al2O3 in matrix and wholly forms tabular CA6 at 1 600 ℃ , which distributes uniformly in the castables. The cold and hot strength of the castables with nano calcium carbonate are obviously higher than those of the castables without nano calcium carbonate, especially at 800 -1 000 ℃ due to smaller size and higher dispersion of the nano calcium carbonate and its different reaction mechanism with Al2O3.

Effect of Curing Temperature on Intermediate Temperature Properties of Calcium Aluminate Cement Bonded Corundum Castables

In order to study the effect of the curing temperature on the intermediate temperature properties of calcium aluminate cement bonded corundum castables,the prepared castables were cured at 5,10,25,40 and 50℃,respectively,dried at 110℃ for 24 h and heat treated at 800 and 1100 ℃,respectively.Then the apparent porosity,the cold modulus of rupture and the cold crushing strength were measured.The phase composition of castable matrix specimens treated under the same conditions and the influence of the curing temperature on the intermediate temperature strength of the castables were also analyzed.The results show that with the increase of the curing temperature,the hydration degree of calcium aluminate cement increases,which promotes the uniform distribution of hydration products with AI203 after decomposition,thus enhancing the intermediate temperature strength of castables.

Fabrication and Improving Properties of Lightweight Al_(2)O_(3)-MgO Castables for L adle Working Lining

Three lightweight Al_(2)O_(3)-MgO castables were fabricated with tabular alumina or microporous corundum as the aggregates,reactiveα-Al_(2)O_(3)micropowder,tabular alumina powder,and fused magnesia powder as the matrix,calcium aluminate cement as the binder,and MgO ultrafine powder(d50=5.4μm)and Al(OH)3 ultrafine powder(d50=8.2μm)as additives.The influence of aggregates and ultrafine powders on the properties,including pore size distribution,heat conductivity,thermal shock resistance,and slag resistance of lightweight refractory castables was investigated.The results show that the incorporation of microporous corundum reduces the bulk density of Al_(2)O_(3)-MgO castables,and MgO and Al(OH)3 ultrafine powders further increases the proportion of micropores in castables,which is beneficial to reducing the heat conductivity,and improving the thermal shock resistance and slag resistance of castables.Additionally,MgO ultrafine powder and Al(OH)3 ultrafine powder increase the fluidity and the strength of castables.

Influence of Dispersants on Flow Ability of Colloidal Alumina Bonded Corundum Castables

In order to make corundum castables satisfy more severe service conditions in high temperature industries,colloidal alumina due to the same main component with corundum castables was introduced for a pure binding system.The influence of three dispersants(citric acid,FS10 and urea)on the flow ability of colloidal alumina bonded corundum castables was researched to choose a suitable dispersant for solving the shaping problem.In order to further understand the influence of dispersants on the flow ability and the mechanism,the rheological property and Zeta potential value of the colloidal aluminadispersant system and the matrix-colloidal alumina-urea-water system were tested.The results show the castables added with the urea have the best flow ability,and the appropriate addition of the urea is 0.5%.

Effect of ZnO Precursor on Properties of Calcium Aluminate Cement Bonded Corundum Castables

Calcium aluminate cement(CAC)bonded corundum based castables were prepared using tabular corundum and activated alumina as the starting materials,CAC as the binder,zinc hydroxide(Zn(OH)_(2))and basic zinc carbonate(BZC)as the ZnO precursors.The effects of the two ZnO precursors on the phase composition and the microstructure of the CAC bonded corundum based castable matrix specimens were analyzed,and the reasons affecting the hot performance of the castables were studied.The results show that Zn(OH)_(2) with a smaller particle size(d_(50)=1.26μm)is prone to agglomerate during sample preparation and generates ZnAl_(2)O_(4) spinel grains after firing,hindering the growth of CA_(6),thus decreasing the mechanical strength of the castables.BZC with a larger particle size(d_(50)=2.91μm),which shows a sound dispersity,in-situ generates nano-sized ZnO after firing,and ZnO or Zn^(2+)diffuses into calcium aluminates,promoting the sintering of CA_(2) and CA_(6),thereby enhancing the hot properties of the CAC-bonded corundum based castables.

Relation Between Sintering Reactivity of Matrix and Thermal Shock Resistance of Ultra-low Cement Bonded Corundum-spinel Castables for Fired Purging Plugs

Purging plugs installed in the bottom of steel ladles are widely used for the secondary refining of high quality steel grades.The dynamic service conditions and temperature gradients caused by the cold inert gas blown through the plug during stirring create a strong thermal shock impact on the materials.This can affect its service life and restrict the safety and efficiency of steel making if the plug fails during use.In this work,the influence of the particle size distribution (PSD) and amount of reactive alumina on the sintering behavior of ultra-low cement bonded corundum-spinel based castables was investigated on lab scale.The relationship between sintering reactivity of matrix and thermal shock resistance of castables was evaluated in detail.Results show that the sintering of castables can be intensified by using finer reactive alumina.However,excessive sintering of the castable through finer reactive alumina is negative for thermal shock resistance.The microstructure characterization reveals that castables with more intense sintering show denser matrix structure,which is less effective in hampering crack propagation and therefore results in decline of their thermal shock resistance.

Effect of Nano Calcium Carbonate on Properties of Corundum-spinel Castables

Using sintered corundum as aggregate, white fused corundum powder, fused spinel powder, ultra-fine a-A12 0 3, nano calcium carbonate and hydrated alumina as matrix, effects of nano calcium carbonate additions （0. 4%, O. 8%, 1.2%, 1.6% and 2. 0% in mass, the same hereinafter） on modulus of rupture, thermal shock resi.~tanee and slag resistance of corundum -spinel castables after treating at different temperatures were studied. The results show that nano calcium carbonate decomposes at high temperatures and in-situ forms ealci- ant aluminates, which can significantly increase the CMOR and HMOR of the castables after treating at 800 -1 400 ℃ ; adding nano calcium carbonate obviously improves the thermal shock resistance of the castables, and has little influence on the high basicity slag resist- ance, however, significantly decreases the corrosion and penetration resistance to low basicity slag.

Application of Activated Alumina Powders in Corundum Castables

There are many brands of activated alumina powders in the market and the products from different manufacturers exist subtle differences. In this work, four brands of activated alumina powder which are the mainstream products in China with the same marked particle size of 2-3 μm were added to corundum castables to investigate the effect of different activated alumina powder on properties of corundum castables. It is found that the multi-peak distribution, round-shape particle,low impurities content of alumina powder are of great benefit to the improvement of the overall performance of castables.Obvious CA6 frame structure formed in castables matrix is conductive to improving the thermal shock resistance and high temperature strength of castables. One kind of domestic alumina micropowder studied in this work has good application value and prospect in corundum castables because of the excellent comprehensive performance.

Research and Application of Corundum Self-flowing Castables for Ladles

The existing problems of corundum self-flowing castables for ladles were expounded and the experimental study was carried out on the basis of the conventional proportion. The corundum self-flowing castables of excellent properties were obtained by changing the kinds of water reducers and active alumina powders, and super bauxite instead of brown corundum on the basis of the optimal scheme for cost reduction. The industrial test of the corundum self-flowing castable,was carried out in a 120 t converter workshop of Liusteel. The service life of the castable synchronized with the well blocks and the purging plugs, which could meet the requirements of the ladle.

Comparative Study of Lightweight Corundum with Different Microstructures and Its Effect on Slag Resistance of Al2O3-MgO Castables

Corundum -spinel castables containing lightweight aggregates have drawn many attentions due to their po- tential for energy-saving, especially when applied in the high-temperature region, such as the work lining of refi- ning ladle. One main aspect that restricts their applica- tion is the slag corrosion performance. In this study, one dense tabular corundum and three kinds of lightweight corundum were chosen as aggregates to prepare four dif- ferent corundum - spinel castables. The slag resistance was compared through the induction furnace corrosion test. SEM - EDS, XRD, and thermodynamic and kinet- ics analysis were adopted for the discussion of the corro- sion mechanism. Results show that the crystal grain size and shape of aggregates are important for the slag corro- sion resistance of lightweight corundum -spinel castables under dynamic condition （enforced convection） , yet the effects of pore characteristics are not dominated. Aggre- gates with large flake-like crystal grains show a thicker dissolution diffusion boundary layer and a lower dissolution rate, resulting in a favorable corrosion resist- ance of the castable. The poor microstructure of the ag- gregates, namely, larger pores and small and spherical grains, would cause deterioration of castables＇ slag resistance.

Effects of Tabular Corundum Types on Properties of Corundum-spinel Castables

The corundum - spinel castables were prepared by six kinds of tabular corundum, as aggregates, respective- ly, and their linear change rate on heating, apparent porosity, bulk density, cold modulus of rupture, coht crushing strength, hot modulus of rupture and thermal shock resistance were compared and studied. The results show that： 1） the six tabular corundum materials have similar main chemical composition but their physical properties vary for the different technical procedures which result in different properties of castables ; 2 ） the optimal properties of corundum - spinel castables corre- spotut to different tabular corundum types, so the corundum type shall be selected according to the application of the castables.

Effect of Nano-CaCo_3 on Properties and Microstructure of Corundum Based Castables

The chrome-containing corundum castables specimens with different nano-CaCO3 additions （0-1.6 wt%） were prepared using tabular corundum,alumina powder,chrome oxide micropowder （average particle size 〈 5 μm）,calcium aluminate cement （Secar71）,commercial nano-CaCO3 （average particle size 〈100 nm） as main starting materials and FS10 as water reducer. The specimens heat treated at 1 000 ℃ and 1 600 ℃ were characterized in terms of apparent porosity,bulk density,cold and hot strengths,and microstructure. The results show that,when the nano-CaCO3 addition is no more than 1.0 wt%,the apparent porosity of the castables increases with nano-CaCO3 addition increasing,both the cold and hot strengths are enhanced; however,when the nano-CaCO3 addition excesses 1.0 wt%,both the cold and hot strengths go down remarkably with nano-CaCO3 addition increasing; the thermal shock resistance is gradually improved with nano-CaCO3 addition increasing in chosen range.

Preparation of Microporous Corundum and Its Effect on Properties of Al_2O_3-MgO Castables

Based on the pore size design of microporous aggregate by numerical simulation applying porous media model,α-Al2O3 micropowder,industrial Al2 O3fine powder,α-Al2O3 micropowder ＋ CaCO3 fine powder were used as starting materials,respectively,to prepare three microporous corundum aggregates specimens,named as A1,A2 and A3.Two lightweight Al2O3-MgO castables were prepared by selecting A1 or A3 as aggregate with O.6 μm of average pore size,then performances of castables with microporous corundum aggregates and castables with tabular corundum aggregates were compared.The results show that：（1） the microporous corundum aggregates with bulk density of 3.1-3.5 g · cm-3,apparent porosity of 5％,closed porosity of 8％-13％,and smaller thermal conductivity at 800 ℃ than tabular corundum,can be prepared by sintering at above 1 800 ℃ ; （2） compared to normal Al2 O3-MgO castables,the two lightweight Al2O3-MgO castables have lower bulk density and higher apparent porosity;lower change rate in dimensions and higher strength firing at 1 500 ℃ ; and lower thermal conductivity at 600 and 800 ℃ ; （3） compared to normal Al2O3-MgO castables,Al2O3-MgO castable with A1 has higher penetration index,and that with A3 has higher corrosion index and lower penetration index.

Effect of Microsilica on Chemical Bond of Calcium Aluminate Cement Bonded Corundum Castable at Low and Intermediate Temperatures

Calcium aluminate cement bonded corundum castable specimens were prepared using brown fused corundum （8 - 5, 5 - 3, 3 - 1 mm ） , white fused corundum （ ≤ 1, ≤0. 045 mm）, micro-sized α-Al2O3 and microsilica as starting materials. This work focused on investigating the relationship between the bond change in the castable matrix and the strength of the castable with 5 mass% microsilica or without microsilica after heat treatment at 110, 800 and 1 000 ℃, respectively. Chemical bond changes between the microsilica and hy- drates of calcium aluminate cement after drying at 110 ℃ or firing at 800 ℃ were investigated by XPS and FTIR. The results show that Si-O-Al bonds form be- tween the microsilica and hydrates of calcium aluminate cement after drying at 110 ℃ or firing at 800 ℃. Therefore, the increased strength of castable specimens is attributed to the formation of Si-O-Al bonds from 110 ℃ to 800 ℃.

Effect of Bauxite Aggregate on Properties of Al_2O_3-SiC-C Iron Trough Castables

A1203-SiC-C iron trough castables were prepared using high alumina bauxite clinker GL-90 （ 〉 1 mm ） or homogenized bauxite GL-88 to replace the traditional brown corundum aggregates （ 〉 1 mm ） to reduce the cost of iron trough castables. Effects of the two bauxite aggregates on properties of iron trough eastables were investigated. The results show that the two kinds of bauxite affect flowability, bulk density, strength and slag corrosion resistance of trough castables differently. Compared with homogenized bauxite, high alumina bauxite clinker is more suitable to substitute brown corundum. The castables prepared from the bauxite clinker have similar performances with those prepared from brown corundum, especially used in medium or small blast furnaces with weak thermal impact and lower temperature hot metal. However, in large blast furnaces with severe thermal impact and high temperature hot metal, the performances of the two castables are significantly different. So it is suggested to use the brown corundum based castables in the front gyral zone of the slag skimmer.

Effect of Calcium Chloride Addition on Properties of Corundum Spinel Castable

Corundum spinel castable was prepared using tabular corundum as aggregates,white fused corundum powder,spinel powder and alumina powder as the matrix,pure calcium aluminate cement as a binder,and extra adding calcium chloride(0,1%,2%,and 3%,by mass).The effects of the CaCl2 addition on the cold physical properties,the hot strength,the thermal shock resistance and the microstructure of the castable were studied.The results show that,for the corundum spinel castable fired at 1550℃,with the increase of the CaCl2 addition from 0 to 3%,the cold strengthes first increase,then decrease,the apparent porosity increases,the volume density decreases,and the linear change rate first decreases and then increases,while the overall change is not significant;however,the hot modulus of rupture and the thermal shock resistance are obviously improved.This is mainly due to that,CaCl2 is evenly distributed in the castable in the form of solution,and reacts with Al2O3 to form small flake CA6 crystals,which evenly distributed in the sample matrix strengthening and toughening the material.

Effect of Andalusite on Properties of Homogenized Bauxite Based Al2O3-SiC-C Castables

In this study,in order to evaluate the performance of homogenized bauxite,two Al_2O_3-SiC-C castables were prepared using homogenized bauxite and brown fused corundum as aggregates,respectively. 5 mass%andalusite was introduced into the two castables so as to research the effect and mechanism of andalusite in Al_2O_3-SiC-C castables. The results showed that：（1） compared with the brown fused corundum based castables,the homogenized bauxite based castables had higher cold strength after heat treatment,but lower hot modulus of rupture;（2） addition of 5 mass% andalusite could enhance the cold and hot modulus of rupture,improve the thermal shock resistance,and optimize the microstructure of specimens;（ 3） the mullitization of andalusite was not obvious in the castables fired at 1100-1400℃.

Application Research of Dense Sintered Alumina in Iron Runner Castables

Three different kinds of corundum aggregates-tabular sintered alumina, dense sintered alumina, and fused dense corundum-were introduced into the silica fume .free or silica fume containing Al2O3 -SiC - C iron runner castables to investigate their influences on the flow ability, linear change on heating, bulk density, apparent porosity, cold strength, hot modulus of rupture, therm, al shock resistance, slag resistance, oxidation resistance as well as wear resistance of Al2O3 - SiC - C iron runner castables. The results show that （ 1 ） compared with the specimens with fused dense corundum, the specimens with dense sintered alumina have equivalent installation property, slag resistance and oxidation resistance, equivalent or even higher cold modulus of rupture, cold crushing strength and hot modulus of rupture, exhibiting better thermal shock resistance and cold wear resistance ; （2） adopting bimodal alumina micropowder LISAL22RABL as well as water reducers ZX2 and ZD2 can well reduce the water requirement of silica fume free castables, solving the problem of deteriorated flow ability resulted from the lack of silica fume; since the lack of silica fume avoids the formation of low melting point liquid, the hot modulus of rupture and the thermal shock resistance of the silica fume free castables are both better than those of the silica fume containing castables ; （3） the density of the castable specimens with dense sintered alumina is 4% -6% lower than that of the castable specimens with Jhsed dense corundum so the refractories consumption of one iron runner reduces by 5% by using the tastable with dense sintered alumina, which obviously reduces the cost of refractories.