Effect of Various Combustible Materials on Insulating Properties of Refractory Bricks

Isiaka Olajide Odewale,Babatunde Joseph David,Oluwakayode Boluwaji Abe,Felix Uga Idu,Victor Tyonenge Dhave Amaakaven,Collins Chinecherem Aluma,Ebere Monica Ameh,Dele Kehinde Ogunkunle

doi:10.3844/sgamrsp.2020.168.179

Abstract

The effect of various combustible materials on insulating properties of refractory bricks produced from Enugu fire clay and Ekebedi clay has been studied. This is aimed at determining the most favourable combustible material for different composition(s). The clays with combustible materials were used to compose different samples labeled A-G with varying percentages of combustible materials at reducing rate of 5% from 40 to 10%. The combustible materials used were paper pulp, saw dust, rice husk and cow dung. Properly mixed bodies with required moisture content were hydraulically pressed into shape and the bricks were oven-dried at temperature of ±110°C. The properties of the produced insulating bricks were investigated after sintering at 1300°C. The results indicated that samples A-G of the products had % shrinkage ranging from 18 - 4.1% with corresponding bulk density of 0.57-1.29 g/cm3 respectively. The investigation revealed that samples of the bricks as stated above had crushing strength ranging from 0.008-16.05 MPa with corresponding percentage porosity ranging from 85.71-19.75% respectively. The estimated refractoriness using shuen’s formula revealed that samples A-G had 1004.6-1506.8°C range of refractoriness while the result of the refractoriness using Pyrometric Cone Equivalent (PCE) indicated that samples A-G had cone 05A (1010°C) - cone 19 (1520°C) range of refractoriness. Spalling count test result revealed that samples A-G of bricks as stated above had number of cycles ranging from 31-8 respectively. It was discovered that the higher the combustible materials the higher the shrinkage, porosity and spalling count cycles while the lower the bulk density and crushing strength of the bricks. Samples of the insulating bricks produced with rice husk gave the most favourable result when considered against the properties stated above. Therefore, 30 and 25% (samples C and D) of the rice husk can be used as combustible material for mass production of insulating bricks.

Highlights

Refractories are ceramic materials that can withstand high temperature without appreciable deformation under service conditions. Mbah (2011; Ossai, 2005) referred to refractories as ceramic materials that have the ability to withstand the action of very high temperature and remain unmelted and undeformed under load
Production of insulating refractory bricks has been going on with different combustible materials without establishing the best and the right proportion that must be used for production of insulating bricks that will meet up with international standards
The properties of the bricks produced investigated after sintering at 1300°C indicated that samples (A-G) of bricks with paper pulp had percentage linear shrinkage ranging from 13.1-4.1%, samples with saw dust had range of 11.5-7.8%, samples with rice husk had range of 10.4-5.2%, while that of samples with cow dung had range of 18-5.8% Fig. 1

Summary

Introduction

Refractories are ceramic materials that can withstand high temperature without appreciable deformation under service conditions. Mbah (2011; Ossai, 2005) referred to refractories as ceramic materials that have the ability to withstand the action of very high temperature and remain unmelted and undeformed under load. Refractories are ceramic materials that can withstand high temperature without appreciable deformation under service conditions. Mbah (2011; Ossai, 2005) referred to refractories as ceramic materials that have the ability to withstand the action of very high temperature and remain unmelted and undeformed under load. Charles study (Kumar, 2011) stated that materials that can withstand very high temperature without degrading or softening are known as refractory materials. Refractory materials include certain ceramics and super alloys and are used in heat insulation of furnaces. The main function of a refractory is to withstand and maintain high temperatures and resist the abrasive and corrosive action of molten metal, slag and gases.

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion