Effect of Different Sintering Temperature on the Performance of Mullite-Corundum Refractory Materials

Al (OH)3, Suzhou kaolin, AlF3 and V2O5 were premixed and pelleted to form the precursor for fabricating the mullite whisker, and then the precursor was added into the calcined bauxite and Suzhou kaolin mixture according to a certain mass percent. The mullite-corundum refractory materials with well-dispersed needle-like mullite formed in-situ were prepared. Through studying the effect of different sintering temperatures on the performances of the as-fabricated mullite-corundum refractory materials, it was concluded that the appropriate sintering temperature was 1450 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water absorption, bending strength, coefficient of thermal expansion and the first thermal stress fracture factor were used to characterize and evaluate the materials. The results show that the sintering character and thermal expansion coefficient of the refractory materials increase with the rising sintering temperature. The bending strength of the refractory materials sintered at 1500 °C presented the maximum value and the first thermal stress fracture factor appeared the highest value at 1450 °C.