Corrosion resistance of calcium hexaaluminate insulating firebrick for synthesising ternary lithium-ion battery cathode materials

Abstract

The widespread use of ternary lithium-ion battery cathode Li(NixCoyMn1−x−y)O2 (LNCM) materials in energy storage equipment has resulted in an increase in the demand for insulating refractory of roller kiln. However, the severe corrosion during LNCM calcination will result in desquamate and damage of the insulating refractory. In this study, the corrosion resistance of bubble alumina brick (bubble alumina), mullite and CA6 (calcium hexaaluminate) insulating refractories was thoroughly investigated. This study combined the laboratory scale experiments on the interfacial reaction and after life cycle analysis on industrial insulating refractory to investigate the interactions between the insulating refractories and LNCM precursor mixture powders after the calcination temperature of 950 °C for 10 h and the corrosion behaviour of the LNCM precursor to different insulating fire bricks after the heat treatment temperature of 950 °C for 10 h every time and repeated 10 times according to the actual LNCM preparation system. The phase composition and microstructure of the three insulating refractories before and after corrosion were characterised to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the corrosion mechanism and behaviour. Results showed that the CA6 has excellent corrosion resistance and has the potential to be used in the lithium battery industry.