Fabrication and Properties of Al₂O₃-SiC/Sialon Composite Refractories

Abstract

Sialon powder was synthesized using low grade bauxite as raw materials by carbothermal reduction-nitridation reaction. The influence of synthesizing temperatures (1300°C, 1350°C, 1400°C, 1450°C, 1500°C and 1550°C) on the phases of the final products was studied by XRD technique. β-Sialon (Z=3) formed at 1350°C and decreased when the temperature was higher than 1450°C. The optimizing reaction temperature for preparing Sialon was 1450°C. The Al2O3-SiC/Sialon composite refractories were prepared at 200°C, 400°C and 600°C for 24h with white corundum, brown corundum, SiC, Sialon powders prepared at 1450°C and calcium aluminate cement. The bulk density, apparent porosity, water absorption and bending strength of the Al2O3-SiC/Sialon composite refractories at room temperature were studied. The results show that the bulk density decreased and then increased with the enhancing of the temperature and reached the highest value of 2.43g/cm3 at 200°C. The apparent porosity and water absorption reached the lowest values of 26.68% and 10.99% at 200°C respectively. The bending strength decreased as the temperature increased, reached the highest value of 0.73MPa at 200°C.