A comparative study on bonding systems in alumina-silicon carbide-carbon-based trough castable

Abstract

An alumina-silicon carbide-carbon-based trough castable is studied with silica sol and calcium aluminate cement-bonding. The castable compositions were prepared by continuous particle size distribution coefficient of 0.21 and processed by conventional processing techniques with heat treatments at 110, 900 and 1500°C. The changes in physical and mechanical properties like bulk density and cold crushing strength with varying amounts of SiC and C were studied. The phase analysis and microstructural developments at high-temperature are also characterised. Cement-bonding showed better dried strength and sol bonding showed no degradation in strength with increasing temperature. Mullite was observed in the fired samples with hibonite and anorthite phases in cement-containing compositions.

Keywords:

• Al₂O₃–SiC–C castable
• Sol
• Cement
• Phase analysis
• Microstructure

Acknowledgement

The authors thankfully acknowledge the support of the staff of the Department of Ceramic Engineering, NIT Rourkela during different experimentations of the work.