Development of Insulating Refractory Ramming Mass from Some Nigerian Refractory Raw Materials

Abstract

Insulating refractory ramming mass was developed from suitable Nigerian refractory raw materials. Rammed samples from several ratios of clay, silica, mica, bentonite and calcium aluminate cement (Durax) were prepared using the American Foundrymen Society (AFS) standard rammer. They were thereafter tested for such properties as apparent porosity, volumetric firing shrinkage, cold compression strength, green compression strength, loss on ignition, thermal shock resistance and refractoriness. Results indicate that eight ramming cycles were just enough for the production of the ramming masses. Two optimal ratios obtained from the experiments have a refractoriness of 1500℃ , good compression strength and excellent thermal shock resistance. They are therefore recommended for lining of rotary furnaces and crucible furnaces for the melting of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys. It could be concluded that the ramming mass serve as a viable alternative to foreign ramming mass at the same temperature application.

Share and Cite:

O. Olasupo and J. Borode, "Development of Insulating Refractory Ramming Mass from Some Nigerian Refractory Raw Materials," Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering, Vol. 8 No. 9, 2009, pp. 667-678. doi: 10.4236/jmmce.2009.89058.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] Adeoye, M. O., (1986): Effect of Microstructures on the Thermal Properties of Refractory Materials, Unpublished M. Sc. Thesis, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
[2] Borode, J. O., Onyemaobi, O. O., and Omotoyinbo, J. A. (2000): Suitability of some Nigerian Clays as Refractory Raw Materials, Nigerian Journal of Engineering Management, Vol.3, pp14-18.
[3] Chesti, R. A. (1986): Refractories Manufacture, Properties and Applications, Eastern Economy Edition, Prentice-Hall, pp8-110.
[4] Energy Efficiency Guide for Industry in Asia ?UNEP (2006), Thermal Energy Equipment: Furnaces and Refractories www.energyefficiencyasia.org accessed on-line 23rd June, 2008.
[5] Gilchrist, J. D., (1977): Fuels Furnaces And Refractories, Pergamon press Ltd. London.
[6] Hassan, S. B. (2001): Effect of Silicon Carbide on Some Refractory Properties of Kankara Clay, proceeding on Nigerian Metallurgical society.
[7] Onyemaobi, O.O. (2004): Assessment of Some Refractory Properties of Some Local Clays for Foundry Usage, Inter. Res. Jour. in Engr. Sc. & Tech (IREJEST), Vol.1, No.2, 2004, 105-114.
[8] Semler, C. E., (2002): Refractories Review; The Importance of Microstructure, www.ceramicindustry.com
[9] Ugheoke, B. I., Onche, E. O., Namessan, O. N. and Asikpo, G. A., (2006): Property Optimization of Kaolin - Rice Husk Insulating Fire – Bricks, Leonardo Electronic Journal of Practices and Technologies, Issue 9, July-December 2006,p. 167-178 http://lejpt.academicdirect.org accessed on-line 23rd June, 2008.

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.