Gipronickel Institute Ltd., St. Petersburg, Russia

O. S. Novozhilova, Junior Researcher, e-mail: NovozhilovaOS@nornik.ru
Yu. A. Savinova, Senior Researcher, e-mail: SavinovaYuA@nornik.ru
D. M. Bogatyrev, Researcher, e-mail: BogatyrevDM@nornik.ru
E. S. Vladimirov, Leading Engineer, e-mail: VladimirovES@nornik.ru

One of the urgent tasks facing metallurgical plants is the selection of refractory materials to increase the durability of industrial furnace linings. Of particular interest are the indicators of refractory materials that are supposed to be used in promising projects of PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel. To solve this problem, it is necessary to understand the nature of the processes of refractory materials destruction. The results of tests of chromite-periclase type (CPT) refractories in hightemperature slag melt are presented. The composition and structure of both the initial and aged in the slag mass samples were studied in detail using such local research methods as scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis. The studies were carried out on one of the most modern and highly informative analytical complexes, which made it possible to determine the composition of the primary and secondary phases at an accurate quantitative level. The obtained results enable to establish the main mechanisms of refractory destruction, these include: impregnation of the CPT refractory mass with slag melt due to its high porosity, replacement of the refractory silicate binder with slag silicate and direct chemical interaction of periclase granules with the slag mass. In turn, chromites are insensitive to the aggressive effects of slag melt. In addition, it was found that the products of interaction of periclase with slag are refractory phases (in particular, secondary iron-chromium spinels and magnesium-based silicates), during furnace operation this can lead to the formation of a secondary refractory skull layer.

1. Kashcheev I. D. Properties and application of refractories : reference publication. Moscow : Teplotekhnik, 2004. 352 p.
2. Akishev A. Kh., Fomenko S. M., Tolendiuly S., Kashkynbay D. T., Rakhym N. T. Intrastructural temperature stress is the main factor in the destruction of refractories in metallurgical furnaces. Gorenie i plazmokhimiya. 2019. No. 17. pp. 33–39.
3. Zemlyanoy K. G. Refractory service : teaching aid. Yekaterinburg : Izdatelstvo Uralskogo universiteta, 2018. 176 p.
4. Pavlovets V. M. Refractory materials : tutorial. Novokuznetsk : Siberian State Industrial University, 2010. 211 p.
5. Khoroshavin L. B., Perepelitsyn V. A., Kononov V. A. Magnesia refractories : reference book. Moscow : Intermet Inzhiniring, 2001. 576 p.
6. Cheng Limei, Zhang Lifeng, Ren Ying. Wettability between 304 stainless steel and refractory materials. Journal of Materials Research and Technology. 2020. Vol. 9, Iss. 3. pp. 5784–5793.
7. Atzenhofer C., Harmuth H. Phase formation in MgO – C refractories with different antioxidants. Journal of the European Ceramic Society. 2021. Vol. 41, Iss. 14. pp. 7330–7338.
8. Gao Jinghong, Su Weiguang, Wang Xin, Song Xudong et al. Corrosion and degradation mechanisms of high chromia refractory bricks in an entrained-flow gasifier: experimental and numerical analysis. Journal of Materials Research and Technology. 2023. Vol. 24. pp. 8754–8765.
9. Malfliet Annelies, Mazzon Antonio, Otegbeye Oluwabukunmi Omotola, Qiu Zilong et al. Impact of antioxidants in MgO – C refractory on steel cleanliness and refractory degradation. Open Ceramics. 2023. Vol. 14. 100352.
10. Wagri Naresh Kumar, Carlborg Markus, Eriksson Matias, Ma Charlie et al. High temperature interactions between coal ash and MgO-based refractories in lime kiln conditions. Fuel. 2023. Vol. 342. 127711.
11. Yuzbasi N. Sena, Graule Thomas, Blugan Gurdial. Stability assessment of alumina and SiC based refractories in a high temperature steam environment as potential thermal energy storage materials. Open Ceramics. 2023. Vol. 16. 100472.
12. Dong Guanglin, Pan Liping, Huang Tian, Chen Yichen et al. Stress intensity factor and fatigue crack propagation assessment of mode-I failure in alumina-calcium hexaluminate refractories. Open Ceramics. 2023. Vol. 15. 100422.
13. Chen Junfeng, Zhang Yu, Liu Guangping, Wei Guoping et al. Deterioration mechanism of Al₂O₃ – MgO refractory castable in RH refining ladle. Open Ceramics. 2023. Vol. 16. 100467.
14. Wu Muhan, Jin Shengli. Morphology characterization for refractory aggregates. Open Ceramics. 2023. Vol. 15. 100408.
15. Luo Yixin, Wang Xing, Liu Zhenglong, Yu Chao et al. Strengthening mechanism and slag corrosion-resistance of low-carbon Al2O3 – C refractories: Role of h-BN. Journal of Materials Research and Technology. 2023. Vol. 27. pp. 3632–3643.
16. Ertseva L. N. The experience of scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis use for the purpose of non-ferrous materials study. Tsvetnye Metally. 2011. No. 8-9. pp. 86–91.
17. Goldstein J. I., Newbury D. E., Echlin P., Joy D. C. et al. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis. Translated from English. Edited by V. I. Petrov. Moscow : Mir, 1984. P. 1. 296 p.; P. 2. 348 p.
18. Borovsky I. B., Vodovatov F. F., Zhukov A. A., Cherepin V. T. Local methods of materials analysis. Moscow : Metallurgiya, 1973. 296 p.
19. Krishtal M. M., Yasnikov I. S., Polunin V. I., Filatov A. M., Ulyaninkov A. G. Scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis in examples of practical application. Moscow : Tekhnosfera, 2009. 208 p.
20. Goldstein J. I., Newbury D. E., Michael J. R., Ritchie N. W. M. et al. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis. 4^th Edition. Springer, 2018. 550 p.