An investigation was carried out to find the relation between the chemical composition and quality of magnesite refractories.
Magnesites produced at six important mines near Daisekkio, South Manchuria, were calcined with or without addition of silica, alumina, ferric oxide, lime, chromic oxide, nickel oxide, manganese dioxide, or cobalt oxide. Small cylinders made of each caustic magnesia were fired to cones 26, 28 and 30. They were then ground to a certain fineness, formed into cylinders with a pressure of 300kg per sq. cm and fired to cone 20.
Porosities, absorptions, bulk specific gravities, apparent specific gravities, etc. were determined.
Then softening behaviors of the cylinders under a load of 2kg per sq. cm were examined with a constant rate of heating and the effect of the chemical composition on the property is discussed.
Influences of the chemical composition upon the resistance to the slaking action of steam under a pressure of 3 atm. and the resistance to spalling were also sought.
Finally the quality of the dead-burned products of the Manchurian magnesites and that of a dead-burned breunnerite imported from Austria are compared.
General conclusions are as follows:
(1) As to the load-bearing property, an introduction of CaO, Ni
2O
3, Mn
2O
3, Co
2O
3, or Fe
2O
3 is favorable or not much injurious, while Al
2O
3, SiO
2, and Cr
2O
3 are hurtful.
(2) Cr
2O
3 and Al
2O
3 increase the resistance to slaking. SiO
2 and Fe
2O
3 are slightly favorable.
(3) Al
2O
3 reduces the spalling tendency. Fe
2O
3, SiO
2, and CaO are more or less effective.
(4) Magnesite refractories as satisfactory as those imported from Austria can be made of the Manchurian magnesites.
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