Application of Arc Furnace Flue Ash in Casting Heat Insulation Riser

Abstract

Iron black commonly employs in thermal insulation riser sleeves due to its ability to react with aluminum powder, generating heat. However, the complex production process and unstable composition of iron black lead to high production costs. The potential of using arc furnace flue ash (AFFA) as a complete substitute for iron black and MnO2 and KNO3 oxidizing agents in conventional riser sleeves was investigated in this study. Waste material can be transformed into a valuable resource, while production costs can be reduced by utilizing arc furnace flue ash. The research examined the impact of varying types and amounts of arc furnace flue ash on riser sleeve temperature and holding time by conducting single-factor and orthogonal optimization experiments. The orthogonal optimization experiment determined that the optimum ratio of each oxidant was 6 % arc flue ash, 3 % MnO2 and 6 % KNO3. At this time, the highest temperature was 1512 ℃ and the holding time was 244 s. Results indicated that different types of arc furnace flue ash used as an oxidizing agent demonstrated superior holding capacity and heat generation performance compared to iron black. Additionally, a comparative analysis of factory casting experiments using ductile iron 600-3 (IS) revealed that both arc furnace flue ash and iron black risers effectively countered shrinkage. However, arc furnace flue ash risers exhibited improved mechanical properties, as evidenced by the hardness of the castings.