It was found first that an introduction of 5 pt. of alumina to 95 pt. of pulverized clinker of a Manchurian magnesite was remarkably effective in reducing spalling tendency of their product from the results of experiments on the influence of additions of silica, ferric oxide, manganic oxide, lime, alumina, chromic oxide, chromite, zinc oxide, fluorite, strontium sulphate, rutile, barium fluoride, and barium sulphate to the clinker upon spalling character of test pieces fired to cones 18 and 28. Next the aluminous test pieces were fired to cones ranging between 12 and 28 to examine the spalling tendency with a result that the test pieces must be vitrified at cones 16 and up. Then spalling tendency of test pieces made of varying amounts of coarse grain of the clinker and the aluminous fine powder was determined. Furthermore spalling tendency and lowering of modulus of elasticity were examined with other 5 Manchurian magnesites. Finally specimens made of a pulverized compound clinker and auxiliary constituents of magnesite, namely silica, alumina, ferric oxide, and lime, have been examined for spalling tendency. The following conclusions seem to be justified by the results of the experiments:
(1) Addition of silica and lime is detrimental if some of them remain in free state.
(2) Addition of ferric oxide, manganic oxide, rutile, strontium sulphate, barium fluoride, and barium sulphate increases spalling tendency.
(3) When alumina and chromic oxide reach or exceed definite amounts, modulus of elasticity of fired specimens is abruptly increased and their spalling tendency is suddenly lowered.
(4) Spalling tendency of specimens containing effective amounts of alumina and chromic oxide decreases with a rise of firing temperature. This character is very important for service.
(5) The effect of chromic oxide is displayed at higher firing temperatures compared to alumina.
(6) The effective amount of alumina is not affected by an introduction of 10% of ferric oxide or silica, while it varies if small amounts of lime coexist.
(7) When coarse grain of a clinker is bonded with its fine powder added with. alumina, specimens containing about 35% or less of the fine powder are inferior to those solely made of the powder.
(8) Specimens added with 5% of alumina and also 1.5% of lime vitrify better, are more resistant to thermal shock, and are richer in load-bearing power, when they are compared to specimens added with 5% of lime and 10% of ferric oxide.
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