Effect Nano-SiC additives on physical and mechanical properties of bauxite refractories used in oil treatment units

Abstract EN

Refractory mixtures were prepared from: bauxite raw materials, grog and Kaolin.

Different weight percentage of micro-SiC (5, 10, 15 and 20 wt%) and nano-SiC (2.5,5,7.5 and 10 wt%) was added to bauxite mixture to improve the refractories characteristics to suit the lining of oil treatment units.

Semi-dry pressing used to forming cylindrical specimens with load (7 ton) and 25 mm in diameter after mixing the powder with 10 wt% Sodium Silicate as a binder.

The specimens dried at (110 oC) for (2 h) and fired at (1400 oC) with soaking time (2 h).

During firing process, some of nano-SiC powder oxidants and transformed to SiO2 glass phase with increasing mullite phase.

Therefore; the bonds with bauxite increases as a result glass phase generated and lead to decreasing the porosity and increasing the shrinkage, density and mechanical properties compared with micro-SiC additives.