Cyclic thermal shock resistance for MgAlON–MgO composites obtained with additions of spent MgO–C brick: Microstructure characteristics, thermal shock parameter and thermal shock mechanism

Abstract

Thermal shock parameters (R, R''', R'''' and Rst) of MgAlON–MgO composites obtained with additions of spent MgO–C brick were calculated using measured mechanical properties and thermal expansion coefficient, determining their resistance to fracture initiation and crack propagation. The cyclic thermal shock experiments of MgAlON–MgO composites performed from 1398 K to ambient temperature indicate that as number of thermal shock cycle increases, retained strength ratio of MgAlON and MgAlON–4.2 wt%MgO sharply decrease and then keep constant, while that of MgAlON–10.5 wt%MgO and MgAlON–15.7 wt%MgO slowly decrease. The reason for the difference is that MgAlON and MgAlON–4.2 wt%MgO show low value of R''' and R'''', and high value of R and Rst. Moreover, precipitation of impurity containing Fe may play a positive role in improvement of thermal shock resistance of MgAlON–MgO composites. MgAlON‒4.2 wt%MgO has the maximum retained strength (55 MPa) even after 5 thermal shock cycles, which is expected to be used in the metallurgical industry.