Microstructure Study on Oxidation of Zirconium Diboride

The oxidation behaviors of fused zirconium diboride and chemosynthetic zirconium diboride as well as morphology and composition of their oxidation products were researched by FESEM-EDS and XRD.The two kinds of zirconium diboride were heated at 700℃,900℃,1100℃and 1300℃for 3 h in air,respectively.The results show that Zr02 and B203(Ⅰ)are generated from the chemosynthetic zirconium diboride oxidized at 700℃for 3 h or the fused zirconium diboride oxidized at 800℃for 24 h;B203(Ⅰ)dissolves into water and then H3B03 crystallizes.

Antioxidant Coating of SEN for Thin Slab Con-casting

The SEN for thin slab con-casting is easy to break and damage because of the oxidation during preheating and application. The enamel coating material is generally applied on the surface of SEN to avoid the oxidation. The coating material with born glass and silicon as main starting materials and silica sol as binder was studied. ZrO2 - C and Al2O3 - C materials containing 15% carbon were isostatic pressed, and heated at 600 ℃ , 900 ℃ , 1 200 ℃ , 1 500 ℃ for 2 h, respectively. The results show that the coating material with 70% of boron glass and 30% of silicon bonded by silica sol can form denser protection layer in the above mentioned materials at the range of 600 -1 500 ℃. The oxidation area ratio and weight loss ratio with the coating are much lower than those without the coating.

Comparative Analysis on New Type Carbon Free Lining and Traditional Carbon Containing Lining Applied on 120-ton LF-RH Refining Ladles

In some steel making workshops, the existed inher- ent weaknesses of traditional carbon containing brick working lining, such as joint opening, vertical cracking of lining, and excessive erosion of brick edge, made it hard to satis]~ the demands of advanced steel produc- tion. A new-type carbon free corundum spinel brick and castable were developed based on the matrix optimized analysis, successfully applied for ultra-low carbon steel production. The advantages of the newly developed car- bon free working lining are mainly as follows： I ） the inherent weaknesses of joint opening, vertical cracking of lining, excessive erosion of brick edge, etc. are sur- mounted successfully, which improves the operational safety of ladles; 2 ） the outer temperature of the ladle shell decreases by 45 -50 ℃ compared with that of the traditional carbon containing brick lining; 3） the service life of new-type working lining is 150 -170 heats, near- ly doubling that of the traditional carbon containing brick lining; the specific eonaumption of refractories per ton steel decreases by about 20% ; 4） the carbon pickup of mohen steel is not obvious which is merely 5 - 10 ppm, which satisfies the demands of low ＆ ultra low carbon steel production.

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.

Characteristics of Magnesium-iron-aluminium Composite Oxides and Their Influence on Properties of Magnesia-based Bricks

The composition,structure and micro-morphology of magnesium- iron- aluminum composite oxides were investigated using various methods such as XRF,SEM,EDS,XRD and KMn O4-titration. Compared to hercynite,the composite oxides have completely different phases including solid solution（ Mg O）0. 77（ Fe O）0. 23,composite spinel Mg Fe0. 2Al1. 8O4 and a small amount of Mg Fe2O4. The composite oxides exhibit excellent corrosion resistance to cement clinker and potassium salts.The products produced by magnesite and the composite oxides show better performance than magnesia- hercynite bricks,especially the corrosion resistance and thermal shock resistance.

Crystallization Behavior of High Purity Fused Magnesia

The chemical composition and microstructure of Tibetan microcrystalline magnesite were studied by means of XRF,XRD and FESEM. It is found that the microcrystalline magnesite has uniformly distributed grains,mostly in the range of 2-4 μm,and the MgO content is47. 80%. In fused magnesia,the druses are colorless transparent periclase megacrysts without impurity,while the crust sand is white,with a high MgO content up to97%-99%. The periclase crystals are big,appearing as faced and step-growth morphology. Massive secondary long columnar periclase is crystallized.

Effect of Carbon Source on Crystal Morphology of SiC in-situ Formed in AI_2O_3-Si-C Matrix

Three kinds of Al2O3- Si- C matrix specimens were prepared using tabular corundum powder and Si powder as starting materials,ultrafine flake graphite,nano carbon black,and carbon nanotubes as carbon sources,respectively,to research the effect of micro or nano carbon materials on structure and morphology of formed Si C crystals. The specimens were fired at 1 000,1 200 and 1 400℃ for 3 h in carbon-embedded condition,respectively.The phase composition was studied by XRD and the crystal morphology of Si C was investigated by FESEM. The results show that：（ 1） the amount of Si C increases with the firing temperature rising;（ 2） the in-situ reaction mechanism and the formed Si C crystal morphology vary with carbon source： carbon nanotubes are generally converted into Si C whiskers by carbon nanotubes-confined reaction; Si and nano carbon black react to nucleate quickly,and the nucleated Si C crystals grow evenly in all directions forming Si C particles; Si C whiskers are produced from edge to internal of ultrafine flake graphite.

Preparation of Light-burned MgO by Microcrystalline Magnesite and Its Application Prospect Analysis

In order to widen the application of microcrystalline magnesite, the microcrystalline magnesite in Sichuan and Tibet area was used as the raw material to prepare light-burned MgO at 700,800,900, 1 000, 1 100 and I 200 ~C for 3 h, respectively. Then the physical and chemical properties of the light-burned MgO were detec- ted, and its application prospect was analyzed. The re- sults show that： （1） microcrystalline magnesite com- pletely decomposes forming light-burned MgO calcined at the temperature range of 700 - 1 200 ~C ; the MgO con- tent of the light-burned MgO is higher than 96. 51% ; the chemical activity is 88 - 130 s and the grain size is 40 - 200 nm ; it has the advantages of high purity, high activity and fine grain; （2） the light-burned MgO pre- pared with microcrystalline magnesite can be widely used in many industries; it can be used in refractories indus- try to prepare high-purity sintered magnesia and large crystal fused magnesia, or as an additive for refractory products, etc. ; it can also be used in magnesium chemi- cal industry to prepare electrical grade magnesia, sili- con-steel magnesia, environmental friendly flame retard- ant magnesium hydroxide, magnesium sulfate fertilizer, pharmaceutical grade magnesia, food grade magnesia, etc.

Preparation of Active MgO and High Purity Sintered Magnesia from Microcrystalline Magnesite

In order to widen the application of microcrystalline magnesite,the thermal decomposition behavior of the microcrystalline magnesite in Sichuan and Tibet area was firstly studied by thermogravimetric analysis. Then the effects of the calcination temperature,calcination time and particle size on the preparation of active Mg O from microcrystalline magnesite were studied by orthogonal experimental design. At last,high purity sintered magnesia was prepared by two-step calcination,meanwhile the effects of the light burning temperature,particle size of the light-burned Mg O powder,molding pressure and the hydration rate of light-burned Mg O powder on the properties of high purity sintered magnesia were studied.The results show that:（ 1） the calcination temperature has the greatest influence on the activity of light-burned MgO,followed by the holding time and the particle size;the optimal process of light burning for preparing active MgO is the microcrystalline magnesite with particle size of 1-0. 5 mm heat-treating at 700 ℃ for 2 h; under these conditions,the microcrystalline magnesite decomposes completely; the average grain size of the obtained product is about 21. 4 nm,and its activity of CAA is20. 16 s;（ 2） the effect of the light burning temperature on the density of high purity sintered magnesia is not obvious; the fineness of the light burning Mg O powder and molding pressure help to increase the density of sintered magnesia; the lower the hydration rate of the lightburned Mg O, the higher the density of the sintered magnesia; the high-purity sintered magnesite withw（ MgO） ≥98% and bulk density≥3. 40 g/cm;can be prepared by the two-step calcination; the grains are fine with size of 30-200 μm and the impurity at grain boundaries is little.

Ongoing Technology and Developing Trend of Ar-blowing Purging Plug

An introduction of the ongoing technology of argon-blowing purging plugs in China was presented in this work. Gel powders were used as starting materials to enhance the high temperature mechanical properties of the purging plugs. Composite purging plug adopting extrusion formed gas-purging bar and slit had its surface structural design improved, which enhanced the resistances to thermal shock and molten steel penetration, prolonging the service life. In addition, the safety was greatly improved by upgrading the framework and production process, enhancing the resistance to breakout. It is indicated that the developing trend is to produce purging plugs of longer service life and better gas purging rate with different starting materials and structure designs to meet the requirements of various metallurgical processes.

Phase Relationship at Subsolidus Temperature of MgO-MgAl2O4-ZrO2 Subsystem

Three groups of cylinder specimens(φ10 mm×10 mm)with 20%,30%and 40%(by mass,the same hereinafter)of ZrO2,were prepared using analytically pure MgO,Al2O3 and ZrO2 powders as the starting materials.The specimens were fired at 1600℃for 5 h,1700℃for 0 h and 1800℃for 7 h,respectively.The microstructure of the MgO-MgAl2O4-ZrO2 subsystem was studied by FESEM.The results show that(1)in the temperature range of 1600-1700℃,solid phase reactions happen in the MgO-MgAl2O4-ZrO2 subsystem,leaving three phases:periclase,spinel and ZrO2(solid dissolving with Mg2+)co-existing;spinellization affects the densification;(2)the specimen with 40%ZrO2 fired at 1800℃has heterogeneous melting microstructure;some areas form typical ternary eutectic MgO-MgAl2O4-ZrO2 with composition of MgO 35.2%-37.2%,Al2O324.2%-26.6%,and ZrO237.2%-39.8%.

Development of Magnesium Aluminate Spinel Castable for Roof of EAF with High Molten Iron Charging Ratio

Specimens of magnesium aluminate spinel castable and calcium aluminate cement bonded bauxite based castable were prepared using special bauxite （particle size ≤8 mm ） and sintered magnesia as aggregates, SiO2 micropowder, α-alumina micropowder and calcium aluminate cement as binders, drying, firing at 1 350 ℃ and 1 500 ℃ for 3 h, respectively. The bulk density, cold modulus of rupture, cold crushing strength, permanent change in dimensions on heating, thermal shock resistance and slag resistanee were determined. The results show that compared with calcium aluminate cement bonded bauxite based castable, the magnesium aluminate spinel castable has higher cold crushing strength after drying, better slag resistance but worse thermal shock resistance. Magnesium aluminate spinel based roof of EAF with high molten iron charging ratio has a longer service life.