Comparative studies of the properties of calcined fireclay articles and articles made of low-cement refractory concretes (LCRC), fired at different temperatures and non-fired, used for the masonry of the bottom structure of tank glass furnaces (bottom block) have been performed. Experimentally obtained data on the thermophysical properties, CLTE, glass stability of articles made of LCRC and calcined fireclay articles are presented. It is shown that fired fireclay articles are desirable to increase the service life of the furnace.The bottom block in modern tank glassmaking furnaces no longer functions as a working lining in direct contact with molten glass. However, the remaining functions of the bottom block are no less important: structural -the main carrying structure (support) of the entire furnace; safeguardingprotective (reinforcing) lining; heat-engineering -heat insulation of the furnace bottom. Data obtained by design organizations show that the temperature on the "hot" surface of the bottom block can reach 1300 -1400°C depending on the degree of wear of the bakor lining.Conventionally, calcined fireclay and mullite articles are used for the bottom block. The manufacture of such articles has been mastered at the Borovichi Refractory Works [1]. In recent years, active advancement and application of concrete articles have begun and publications on their use for the bottom structure of glassmaking furnaces have appeared [2 -6]. Concrete articles are much more practicable and less expensive to manufacture: vibrational molding does not require powerful presses, the press-fixture is weaker and inexpensive, the lack of firing and the associated shrinkage makes it possible to conserve fuel and obtain articles with minimal dimensional deviations.To determine the advantages and drawbacks of non-fired concrete and fired articles, studies of each group of articles mentioned were performed at the Research Center for Improving Technology and Production at the Borovichi Refractory Works (BRW), JSC.All articles made of low-cement refractory concretes (LCRC) belong to the same class of refractory materials and are of the same nature -a composition of refractory fill and a matrix consisting of high-alumina cement and disperse and reactive alumina [7 -9], so that their physical properties and the character of the chemical interaction with silicate melts, including the main metallurgical slag and glass melts, are similar to one another. On this basis the present authors believe that the research results obtained for the production materials used at BRW can be extended to the materials used by other producers.
MATERIALS STUDIEDSamples of calcined fireclay articles of the sorts ShSU-33 and ShSU-40 (GOST 7151-74) from the operating process stream of the steel-pouring pit shop at BRW were studied [10]. Samples, made of low-cement refractory concrete (LCRC) of the sort Borcast-50 W (TU 14-194-271-05) with fireclay fill, in the form of 230´114´65 mm articles and cubes with edge length 70 mm were made according to the composition a...