Stability of alumina-base refractories in western lignite-ash slag environments

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:6446178

Pahlman, J E; Anderson, C F; Khalafalla, S E

One of the goals of the Bureau of Mines is to develop metallurgical processes that conserve energy and/or that take advantage of abundant domestic energy sources. Western lignites and subbituminous coals can be used for firing pellet induration and metallization furnaces. However, the refractory linings of these furnaces must be able to withstand attack from corrosive alkali metal oxides present in the ash of many of the low-rank fossil fuels. The Bureau of Mines conducted dynamic and static slag tests on high-alumina and alumina-silica refractories to determine their resistance to lignite ash slags. The investigations showed that increased alkali content in the lignite ash caused increased corrosion and erosion of the tested refractories. The degree of corrosion decreased with increasing alumina content, with the 99-percent-alumina refractories having the highest resistance. In general, the matrix phase was attacked preferentially to the alumina grains. Also, porosity reduction and tar impregnation enhanced the corrosion and erosion resistance. The 90- to 99-percent-alumina refractories are recommended for use as furnace linings in alkali slag environments.

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Twin Cities, MN (USA). Twin Cities Metallurgy Research Center
• OSTI ID: 6446178
• Report Number(s): BM-RI-8334
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
014000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Combustion
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360205 -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Corrosion & Erosion
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
BROWN COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
CORROSION
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
ENERGY SOURCES
EROSION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
FURNACES
LIGNITE
MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RECOMMENDATIONS
REFRACTORIES
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SLAGS
SUBBITUMINOUS COAL