Influence research of an α–form alumina type on the properties of samples from vibrocasting mullite corundum granular masses

Abstract

The technology of refractories vibrocasting was developed by JSC "URIR named after A. S. Berezhnoy" in particular highly refractory mullite corundum crucibles for melting of heat-resistant alloys in induction furnaces. At manufacturing of highly refractory vibrocasting mullite corundum refractories a-form alumina, as a dispersion binder, which milling to a particles size of less than 10 μm (the content of particles less than 4 μm in such alumina is more than 50 %) is used. For improvement the casting characteristics of vibrocasting masses dispersants are used. At research milling kinetics alumina of all brands was milling in a vibration mill for a specified time. For this research a certain amount of the investigated alumina of each brand was loaded into a vibration mill, and after a specified grinding time (30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 min), a sample of alumina after milling was taken in a specified amount. In this work, the kinetics of changes the dispersion of alumina (S, N and NR brands) during their milling was studied. The dispersion of alumina which were needed (the content of particles less than < 10 μm in such alumina is not less than 90 %, the content of particles less than < 4 μm — not less than 50 %) was achieved in almost the same milling time was found (~ 45 min). With a further increase of milling time to 60, 75 and 90 minutes, the dispersion of alumina N and NR brands increases in comparison with alumina S brand and after 90 minutes of milling, the content of particles < 4 μm in alumina, respectively, is ~ 60, ~ 75 and ~ 80 %. After fired at a temperature of 1580 °C the properties of vibrocasting mullite corundum samples, which contain alumina S, N and NR brands, are characterized by a high level of apparent density (above 3 g/cm3), open porosity (less than 16 %) and cold crushing strength (above 140 N/mm2). The high properties make it possible to use a-form alumina N and NR brands along a-form alumina S brand in the technology of vibrocasting mullite corundum refractories, including the highly refractory mullite corundum crucibles.