Experimental aspects of stress-strain curves determination at high temperature and controlled atmosphere: Al2O3-MgO-C refractories

A methodology for the mechanical evaluation of refractory materials at high temperatures and controlled atmosphere, designed and implemented in the Structural Materials Laboratory of Ceramics Division of INTEMA, is described. The methodology includes the measurement of the specimen deformation by contact extensometry in compression tests to obtain stress-strain curves and the use of a gaseous flow as a system to control atmosphere. The determination of stress-strain curves of Al2O3-MgO-C commercial refractories used in steelmaking ladles at room temperature and 1260 degrees C in different atmospheres is presented as an example of application of this methodology.