Thermomechanical and thermochemical behavior of MgO-C refractory bricks

Abstract

The technological development of MgO-C bricks and their position in the market generate great interest in continuing to study certain topics that are still under discussion, despite the fact that these materials have been extensively investigated. The development of this thesis is useful, to the academic than industrial sectors, in the generation of comprehensive knowledge of MgO-C refractories. The objective of the thesis is to study the raw materials quality effect has on the chemical, mechanical and thermal behavior of these materials. For this, bricks were formulated with two qualities of magnesia aggregates (electrofused and sintered) and with different degrees of purity (between 97.6 - 99.1% MgO). The materials for this study were prepared from 90 wt% of magnesia (MgO) and 8.2 wt% of graphite (C), completed with the addition of antioxidants and binder resin. Chemical and mineralogical composition, microstructural analysis, density and porosity (apparent and total), resistance to chemical attack by slags at 1600 °C, mechanical behavior in compression at room temperature and 1400 °C, and thermal evolution up to 1400°C were determined.