Chemical analysis of Al2O3-MgO-C refractories

Chemical analysis of Al2O3-MgO-C refractories The Al2O3-MgO-C refractories, of great technological interest for its excellent properties, are used in a wide range of furnace-lining applications such as iron and steel. These materials are composed of various grades of alumina, magnesia, graphite and metallic additives, which are added to a resin that acts as binder. The variety of components oxides, metals and polymers makes the study of these refractories a complex task. Considering this diversity to characterize these materials has been used several techniques: X-ray fluorescence, plasma emission spectroscopy and gravimetry, complemented by X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry and reflected light optical microscopy. This paper provides a methodology for chemical and mineralogical characterization of these refractory materials. The results of chemical analysis together with the qualitative information on the crystalline phases and the raw materials with which they are formulated have been used to quantify the composition of the refractories using rational analysis. The data obtained by the different techniques validate the methodology developed.