Investigation of the effects of temperature on physical and mechanical properties of monolithic refractory made with pozzolanic materials


Thesis Type: Postgraduate

Institution Of The Thesis: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Turkey

Approval Date: 2005

Student: BAYRAM MURAT MÖREL

Co-Supervisor: LUTFULLAH TURANLI, ALİ KALKANLI

Abstract:

In recent years, scientific studies are carried out to find new refractory material. Having good mechanical properties under very high temperatures, refractories are widely used in industries like iron, steel, glass, cement and pottery. Researches are focused on monolithic refractory making because of their superior properties comparing to conventional firebrick refractories. Providing a mono-block body, having no joints makes the monolithic refractories more durable at elevated temperatures. Easier production and installation are two main points that people are choosing monolithic refractories, thus an economy is made. In this study, for monolithic refractory production, high alumina cement was used as binding material. It is known that the increase in alumina (Al2O3) content increases the high temperature resistance, so that crushed firebrick, having 85% Al2O3 was used as aggregate. Pozzolanic materials, which are silica fume, fly ash, ground granulated firebrick and ground granulated blast furnace slag, were added to improve physical and mechanical properties of mortar. With the addition of steel fibres, change in compressive strength and flexural strength was observed.Superplasticizer was used to understand its behaviour under high temperatures. Portland cement containing mortars were also prepared to make comparison with high alumina cement containing specimens. Specimens were prepared in 5x5x5 cm and 4x4x16 cm prisms. They were cured for one day at curing room, then heated to 105°C and then heated to 1100°C. Weight, size and ultrasound velocity change, compressive strength and flexural strength tests were done to determine physical and mechanical properties of the monolithic refractories, before and after heating. Heated and non-heated specimens were pulverized for microstructural investigation with X-Ray diffraction (XRD) method. Using high alumina cement with