Refractory ceramics based on magnesium–aluminate spinel and periclase of the Satka deposit

Abstract

The article is aimed at evaluating the promising approach to the management of the performance characteristics of ceramic refractories based on magnesia-aluminate spinel and periclase made from natural components extracted from the Satka deposit. The essence of the approach is the mechanical activation of initial coarse powders to decrease the mean particle size and dispersion, as well as to clean particle surfaces, and the variation of sintering parameters to improve the quality of adhesion between particles during sintering. It is shown that these changes in production technology allow for achieving a significant superiority of refractories obtained from activated powders over industrial samples made of powders not subjected to this kind of treatment. The obtained materials particularly have multiple higher strengths and fracture toughness. The thermal conductivity and thermal shock resistance of the obtained materials are not inferior to or superior to the corresponding characteristics of industrial refractories of similar phase composition. The analysis showed that the mechanical and thermophysical characteristics of ceramics synthesized from mechanically activated natural powders are not inferior to those of ceramics synthesized in laboratory conditions from pure precursors. The results of the study indicate a possibility of significant improvement of the mechanical and thermal characteristics of industrial periclase-spinel refractories by additional mechanical activation of mixtures of coarse powders obtained from mined natural components.