Tehran International Conference on Refractories - Amazon S3s3.amazonaws.com/zanran_storage/ ·...
40
Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 Tehran International Conference on Refractories May 4-6, 2004
Transcript of Tehran International Conference on Refractories - Amazon S3s3.amazonaws.com/zanran_storage/ ·...
Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004
Tehran International Conference on
RefractoriesMay 4-6, 2004
ALAFAR2004
NOVEMBER 7-10, 2004
ANTIGUA, GUATEMALAConference topic: Technological and Logistical Leadership in aGlobal Environment
• Refractory applications for the steel, non-ferrous andcement industry
• Refractory applications for the ceramic, petrochemicaland other industry
• Raw materials for refractories• User’s points of view• Quality and Environment• Processes, equipment and controls• Development of refractory products• Logistics Considerations• Recycling of materials
Comite Organizador ALAFAR / ALAFAR OrganizingCommittee
c/o Reto SchweglerPO Box 6100
North Augusta, SC, 29861 ? USATel: +1-(706) 796 4383; Fax: +1-(706) 796 4266
E-mail: [email protected]
UNITECR 2005Call for Papers
Abstract Deadline - November 30,2004
for more information see:www.unitecr.org
General Session Topics•Refractories for Iron and Steel, Glass,
Ceramic Industries, Non-ferrousMetallurgy, Cement,Hydrocarbon,Waste Incineration, Pulpand Paper
•Refractory Applications of AdvancedCeramics
•New Tests and Test Development•Refractory Engineering Systems and
Design•Advances in Manufacturing, Control,
Equipment•Raw Material Advancements, Selection
and Application•Process Control, Quality Control,
Quality Assurance•Advances in Refractory Services•New Developments
Special Symposia Topics•Environmental Sustainability•Ultra High Temperature Materials•Steelmaking Refractories–Dofasco, Inc.•Fracture of Refractory Ceramics•Worldwide Raw Materials•Coatings and Surface Modifications•Carbon Containing Castables•Ex Situ and In Situ Characterization•Refractories for Primary Aluminum•Robert E. Moore Refractory Education
Symposium•Castable Rheology•Hydrocarbon Processing•Refractories for Rock Products
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 1
RReeffrraaccttoorriieess AApppplliiccaattiioonnssaanndd NNeewwss
From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
The Refractories Institute News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Industry News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
The Guest Business Review --- Mg-Al Spinel: is it the Mullite of the 21st Century? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8by R. Bradt
Institution Profile --- Mechanical Testing and Research Laboratory-CeramicsDivision at INTEMA UNMdP/CONICET-Argentina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11by M. A. Camerucci, A. G. T. Martinez and A. L. Cavalieri
Feature Article --- Key Properties for the Optimization of Refractory Castable Drying. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14by M. M. Akiyoshi, F. A. Cardoso, M. D. M. Innocentini and V. C. Pandolfelli
40 Years of the St. Louis Symposium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18by J. D. Smith
Particle Size Distribution Control for Refractories Forming Rheology. . . . . . . . . . 21by J. E. Funk, D. R. Dinger and J. E. Funk, Jr.
The 106th Annual Meeting & Exposition of the American Ceramic Society . . . . . . .27by H. Guimaraes Neto, X. Liang and A. Rezaie
Tehran International Conference on Refractories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28by F. Golestani-Fard, A. R. Hanifi and W. L. Headrick
Directory of Products, Services and Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Buyer’s Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
ADVERTISING INDEXBNZ Materials, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .inside back coverTel: (724) 452-8650 or (800) 955-8650 Fax: (724) 452-1346
Elfusa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Tel: (724) 857-9880 Fax: (724) 857-9916
J.W. Lemmens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13Tel: (314) 770-2200 or (800) 437-3884 Fax: (314) 770-2262
Unimin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .inside back coverTel: North America (800) 243-9004 Fax: (800) 243-9005Tel: Worldwide: (203) 966-8880 Fax: (203) 972-1378
Vesuvius USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Tel: (217) 351-5000 Fax: (217) 351-5031
CONTENTS
U.S. readers who would like to subscribe to this magazine shouldE-mail their name and address to: Mary Lee at: [email protected]
Front CoverThe Imam Mosque Isfahan/Iran, is marvel
of Safavid art and magnificent example ofthe sumptuous architecture that constitutedthe glory of Isfahan at the time. The twominarets of the north portal, the high cupola(170 ft) and minarets of the south portal (160ft) and the pointed roof of the minarets dom-inate the arcades of the square. The finestview of the mosque is from the upper storyof Ali Qapu whence you can see the entireshafts of the minarets, the stalactite vaults ofthe portals, and the splendid cupola with itshigh drum and characteristic bulb-shapeddome. It was the work of Shah Abbas thegreat. This mosque was started in 1611 ADand building it took 18 years. Shah Abbasfinally saw his mosque finished in 1629 AD,the last year of his reign, when the highcupola was completed. Apart from these fewadditions, the Imam Mosque is one of therare examples of a grandiose building con-structed at the behest of one man in one con-tinuous operation lasting less than 18 years.This accounts for the remarkable unity of thedecorations, colors, and motifs.
The name Iran means the country ofAryans. They immigrated to the Iranianplateau somewhere around 1000 BC.
These immigrants established the firstempire of the world which is known in theWest as the Persian Empire by King Cyrusaround 570 BC.
Iran is a land of historical sites and cultur-al heritage and with 2500 years history. Aland of beauty, flowers, birds, poets andpoetry, ancient and modern art and a greatvariety of cultures and sub-cultures in a
Continued on Page 13
Names of the people from the frontcover: (Front row kneeling left to right)S. Ghanbari Ahari and A. Al Emadi,(second row left to right standing) K.Saud Zaid, A. Shojaie, W. L. Headrick,S. M. Mahmoudy, W. E. Lee, H.Sarpoolaky, G. Schmidt, E. Salahi, A.Saberi, K. Ghanbari Ahari, B. Rand, P.Nourbakhsh, B. Dorushi, M. Al Subaley,H. R. Rezaie, S. Zhang, M. Ghaznavi,(third row left to right) A. SarafrazNikoo, A. Najafi, A. Eilaghi, S. P.Sobhani, F. Aryanpour, A. Ghaffari, G.Oprea, A. R. Hanifi, M. O’Driscoll, H.Chandler
RReeffrraaccttoorriieess AApppplliiccaattiioonnssaanndd NNeewwss
www.ranews.info
Technology Bimonthly for the Global Refractories Industries
2 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
RReeffrraaccttoorriieess AApppplliiccaattiioonnss aanndd NNeewwss on the web: www.ranews.info
Refractories Applications and News (ISSN 1537-6443) is published bi-monthly. It is a non-profit publication, free to U.S. sub-scribers.
Refractories Applications and News is not responsible for opinions stated by contributors to the publication.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the publisher. Permissionis not, however, required to copy abstracts or articles on the condition that a full reference to the source is given. This consent doesnot extend to copying items for general distribution or for advertising or promotional purposes or to republishing items in whole or inpart in any work in any format. Orders for copies of articles published in this magazine may be placed through the RefractoriesApplications and News office by contacting Mary Lee, [email protected], (573)341-6561.
Instructions for the preparation of articles to be submitted for possible publication in this magazine are available from the AssistantEditor, Mary Lee, [email protected], (573)341-6561, University of Missouri-Rolla, 222 McNutt Hall, Rolla, MO 65409.
Refractories Applications and News is being indexed by Cambridge Scientific Abstracts in Ceramic Abstracts/World CeramicsAbstracts, and by Chemical Abstracts Service, CODEN RACECN.
“Refractories Applications and News” founded by Robert E. Moore in 1996.Editorial offices at University of Missouri-Rolla
Department of Ceramic Engineering, 222 McNutt Hall, 1870 Miner Circle Drive, Rolla, MO 65409-0330 Phone: (573) 341-6561 Fax: (573) 341-6934 Website: www.ranews.info
Editor, Mariano Velez E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (573) 341-6561Assistant Editor, Mary Lee E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (573) 341-6561Technical Editor, William Headrick E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (573) 341-6561Technical Editor, Jeffrey D. Smith E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (574) 341-4447Review Editor, Musa Karakus E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (573) 341-4120Contributing Editor, Laurel M. Sheppard E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (614) 527-1398Contributing Editor, Charles E. Semler E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (480) 895-9830Advertising Sales/Webmaster, Stephanie Headrick E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (573) 729-7628Advertising Sales, Dwight Whittemore E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (724) 969-0588Advertising Sales, Mike Nelson E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (812) 282-1682
Lou Trostel - Councilor, Refractories Ceramics Division, ACerSRob Crolius - President, TRI
JOINTLY SPONSORED BY THE REFRACTORIES INSTITUTE AND REFRACTORY CERAMICS DIVISION OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
Esteban Aglietti, (CETMIC, Buenos Aires, Argentina)E-mail: [email protected] Baudin, (Institute for Ceramics and Glass, Madrid, Spain) E-mail: [email protected] C. Bradt, (University of Alabama)E-mail: [email protected] Brandaleze, (Instituto Argentino de Siderurgia)E-mail: [email protected] Eduardo Gonçalves, (Magnesita, Brazil)E-mail: [email protected] Lee, (University of Sheffield, England)E-mail: [email protected]
Jose Luis Mendoza-Bedolla, (Technical Consultant, Saltillo, Mexico)E-mail: [email protected] Nan, (Wuhan University, P.R. China)E-mail: [email protected] Oprea, (University of British Columbia, Canada) E-mail: [email protected] C. Pandolfelli, (UFSCar, Brazil)E-mail: [email protected] A. Rigaud, (Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal, Canada)E-mail: [email protected] Topolevsky, (Siderar, Buenos Aires, Argentina) E-mail: [email protected]
Subscription is free upon request in the U.S. only. Please send address changes to Refractories Applications and News, University of Missouri-Rolla, 222 McNutt Hall, 1870 Miner Circle Dr., Rolla, MO 65409-0330. Allow six weeks foraddress change. Foreign readers may receive a hard copy by sending $40.00/yr. in U.S. currency or view the current issue (free) on our website: www.ranews.info. Foreign institutes, researchcenters and libraries will continue to receive a free printed copy upon request.
Refractories Applications and News, the premier technology journal for the global refractories industries, covers the latest advances in raw materials, finished products, installation and research.Refractories Applications and News is published six times a year. Printed in the United States of America.© The Refractory Ceramics Division and the University of Missouri-Rolla, Dept. of Ceramic Engineering assumes no responsibility for the statements and opinions advanced by contribu-tors to its publication.
Corresponding Editors:
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 3
2004 REFRACTORIES RELATED MEETINGSAugust 1-6, Gordon Research Conference on High Temperature Materials, Process and Diagnostics, Waterville, ME, Contact: K.Hilpert, E-mail: [email protected], www.grc.org/programs/2004/hightemp.htm
August 22-25, COM 2004, The Conference of Metallurgists, Hamilton, Canada, Met. Soc. of CIM, 3400 de Maisonneuwe West, #1210,Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3Z 3B8, Tel: (514) 939-2710, ext. 1317, Fax: (514) 939-9160, E-mail: [email protected], www.metsoc.org
August 22-25, 4th International Symposium on Advances in Refractories for the Metallurgical Industries in conjunction with theConference of Metallurgists, Hamilton, Canada, Tel 514-858-6471, [email protected], www.metsoc.org; orwww.metsoc.org/conferences/com2004August 22-26, VII National Congress of the Mexican Electron Microscopy Association, Cancun, Mexico; Tel/Fax: +42(222)2114393,+52(222)2114394, www.viep.buap.mx/imrc2004.htm
August 30-September 3, 16th World Conference on Nondestructive Testing, Montreal, Tel: 514-286-0855, www.wcndt2004.com
September 7-9, Short course: Design & Inspection of Refractory Materials, course outline available athttp://www.carmagen.com/810.htm; Edmonton, Canada, Carmagen Engineering, Inc., 4 West Main Street, Rockaway, NJ 07866, Tel:973/627-4455, Fax: 973/627-3133
September 10, Refractory Improvements in Steelmaking, Carlton Park Hotel, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, Contact: Mr.AlanHey, E-mail: [email protected], Fax 44 1226 762673
September 10-17, National Safety Council 92nd Annual Congress & Expo, New Orleans, Louisiana, for more information:http://www.appcluster05.com/app/homepage.cfm?moduleid=554&appname=349
September 12-15, 5th International Conference on High Temperature Ceramic Matrix Composites, Abstract Deadline November 30,2003, Westcoast Grand Hotel, Seattle, Washington, www.acers.org/
September 15-16, GFC 2004, ORLEANS CONFERENCE ON REFRACTORIES, Orleans, France, Tel: +33 238494543, Fax:+33238417329, E-mail: [email protected], http://www.univ-orleans.fr/polytech/colloque
September 15-17, AISTech 2004, The Iron & Steel Technology and Exposition, Opryland, Nashville, TN, contact Lynda Draper at 724-776-1535 ext. 629 or [email protected], www.aistech.org
September 19-22, The 8th International Congress of Applied Mineralogy (ICAM 2004), organized by the International Council forApplied Mineralogy (ICAM) - Commission on Applied Mineralogy of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA-CAM), Aguas deLindoia, São Paulo, Brazil, www.appliedmineralogy.org/icam
September 19-23, 10th International Symposium on Superalloys, Champion, PA, sponsored by the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society(TMS); Tel: 724/776-9000; E-mail: [email protected]; www.tms.org
September 22-24, Aluminum 2004 – 5th World Trade Fair & Conference, Messe Essen, Germany; Tel: +49-211-90191-202; E-mail:[email protected]; www.Aluminum2004.com
September 23-24, FURNACES North America 2004, Nashville, Tennessee, Tel: 904/249-0459; www.fna2004.com
September 27-30, MineExpo 2004 International, Las Vegas, NV, Sponsored by the National Mining Association, www.minexpo.com/
October 5-7, Short Course on Advanced Techniques for Pore Structure Characterization; Ithaca, NY; Tel: 607/257-5544 ext. 13; E-mail: [email protected]; www.pmiapp.comOctober 3-6, Fractography of Advanced Ceramics, Poprad, Slovak Republic, www.imrnov.saske.sk/CONFER/fac2004.htm
October 13-14, 47th International Colloquium on Refractories 2004, Refractories for Metallurgy EUROGRESS, Aachen, Germany,Forschungsgemeinschaft Feuerfest e.V. - Feuerfest-Kolloquium -An der Elisabethkirche 27, D-53113 Bonn, Tel:++49-228-91508-45,Fax:++49-228-91508-55, E-mail: [email protected], www.feuerfest-kolloquium.de
October 13-15, 4th International Tube and Pipe Industry Technology Exhibition for Korea, Busan Exhibition and Convention Center,Seoul, Korea, www.e-pipe.co.kr/exhibition2004/img/eng1.gif or e-mail:[email protected]
October 18-19, Short Course on Refractory Applications for FCC Units, Process Heaters and Boilers, Hotel Sofitel Houston, Houston,Texas, E-mail: [email protected]; www.petroleumrefining.com
October 31-November 3, 3rd International Symposium on the Science of Engineering Ceramics, Osaka, Japan, Tel: 81-52-739-0155,E-mail: [email protected]
November 3-5, 15th IAS Rolling Conference, 2nd IAS Conference on Uses of Steel, Instituto Argentino de Siderurgia, Hotel Colonial, SanNicolas, Argentina, Contact: Cristian Genzano, IAS, E-mail: [email protected], Tel: 54-3461 460803, Fax: 54-3461 462989,www.siderurgia.org.ar/seminario/call_for_papers.htm.
November 7-10, 32nd ALAFAR, Congress of the Latin American Association of Refractories Manufacturers, Antigua, Guatemala,[email protected]
December 6-8, International Symposium on Advanced Materials and Processing, Kharagpur, India, www.iitkgp.ernet.in/depart-ments/home.php?deptcode=MS
4 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
From the Editor. . .
EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM HONORS ROBERT E.MOORE AT UNITECR 2005Mariano Velez, Editor
The refractories communitylost one of its largest support-ers when Professor RobertEugene Moore died unexpect-edly last year on July 9th. BobMoore continuously promotedthe field of refractoriesthroughout the world and wasthe founder of RefractoriesApplications and News in1996. The idea was to create amagazine that would primarilyserve the industry and its peo-ple, covering practical issues
as well as state-of-the-art matter. He also led the UMR Ceram-ic Engineering Department for almost thirty years, transform-ing one of the smallest academic departments on campus toone with international status and networking with differentinstitutions across the globe. His work is being commemoratedduring the Robert E. Moore Refractory Education Symposiumat UNITECR 2005 (www.unitecr.org).
The goal of this session, based on Professor Moore’s initia-tive in early 2003, is to survey the refractories research andteaching centers around the world. This update would includeeducational and research activities; for instance, the number ofundergraduate and graduate students, formal refractories-relat-ed university courses, as well as industry-oriented, long-dis-tance learning and short courses, on campus, off campus, sem-inars and web-based courses. A final objective is to summarizethe information of the different centers to identify areas fordevelopment and research, and a vision of education for futuregenerations. This could lead to potential collaboration betweencenters, institutes or universities, and the industry – while pro-moting the teaching centers, as information will be available tolarge audiences. More specifically, the session would identifythe following:
• Number of teaching staff and research staff dedicatingtheir efforts in this area.
• Course titles and enrollments in classes on refractorieswhich are taught on campus; for the current year and afive-year average.
• Number of M.Sc. and Ph.D. graduate students.• Courses taught away from the university or institute
and/or courses taught through the Internet.• Complete contact information of lead person(s), includ-
ing E-mail address and website if available.
At this time we have around ten centers and universities fromdifferent countries committed to this symposium. In particular
we have educators from Argentina, Canada, England, Japan,Korea, Mexico, Spain, USA, and Ukraine willing to participate.I invite other centers to participate; please write me or submityour abstract directly to the UNITECR 2005 website. Deadlineis November 30th.
Although similar review sessions on education were conduct-ed in 1997 and then in 2003, several issues ensure that this par-ticular effort would be of benefit for all. On one hand, the econ-omy is starting to improve; on the other hand, globalization isstill an important issue. Refractory teaching at universities hasbeen declining; however, new materials and techniques arebeing developed and long-distance and internet-based coursesand information have increased. Resource optimization is agoal for everybody as research money is limited. This wouldlead to more collaboration between refractories-related centerswith fresh information and status of each institute, region, oremphasis. UNITECR 2005 is planned for November 8-11 inOrlando, Florida.
Another important meeting where members of the interna-tional refractories community gather to collaborate is ALAFAR(www.alafar.org), now a bi-annual event. This year’s meetingwill be held on November 7th to 10th, in Antigua, Guatemala.The topic of the event is the Technological and LogisticalLeadership in a Global Environment. The sessions will includerefractories for steel, non ferrous, cement, ceramic, petrochem-ical, as well as raw materials, quality and environment, processcontrol, development and recycling of materials. We encourageyou to attend both UNITECR and ALAFAR to help make thesemeetings successful.
In this issue we are summarizing the first Tehran InternationalConference on Refractories (see page 28). The event was wellattended and a list of comments from some of the attendees isincluded. RR AANN
Mariano Velez
UNITECR 2005www.unitecr.org
See the inside front cover
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 5
News from The Refractories Institute www.refractoriesinstitute.org/
The Refractories Institute, 650 Smithfield St., Ste. 1160, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
of respondents reported sales up slightly or upover 5%. This is a major turnaround from theanemic surveys of the past couple of years.Only three companies reported increasedinventories, while half reported their invento-ries had decreased. About a third of the com-panies plan to hire more staff. The majorcomplaint was the rising costs of raw materi-als, energy, and freight.
ACerS Makes Changes to AnnualMeeting Format in 2006
The American Ceramic Society hasannounced that in 2006 it will switch its annu-al meeting from the spring to the fall and willmeet in a joint meeting with AMS and TMS.AcerS had agreed to participate in the 2005joint meeting of the two organizations as a“junior” partner while still having its annualmeeting in the spring. In 2006, it will becomea full-fledged participant. There is also talk ofasking the Association for Iron and Steel(AIST) to participate, but it may be too earlyfor that group which resulted from the merg-er of the Iron and Steel Society and theAssociation of Iron and Steel Engineers.
REGULATORY ISSUESOSHA News
The Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration has recently acted in a num-ber of areas of interest to the refractoriesindustry.
New Fact Sheets: OSHA has posted sevennew fact sheets on its web site. The publica-tions include: “Voluntary ProtectionPrograms,” “The OSHA ConsultationProgram,” State Job Safety and HealthPrograms,” “Hazardous Waste Operationsand Emergency Response,” “Planning andResponding to Workplace Emergencies,” and“OSHA Requirements When a WorkerExperiences a Job-Related Injury or Illness.”They can be found at www.osha.gov/wut-snew.html.
Hexavalent Chromium: Small business rep-resentatives, citing feasibility concerns, havepetitioned the agency to increase its proposedPEL for hexavalent chromium and consideradopting a minimum PEL of 20 microgramsper meter of air. Suggested PELs in theagency’s draft regulation are as much astwenty times lower. The employers statedthat as the “action level” is generally one half
the PEL in most OSHA health standards, thecost and feasibility of meeting the very lowlevels are problematic.
Employers with High Injury/Illness Rates:OSHA has notified about 13,000 employersin the United States that their injury and ill-ness rates are significantly higher than thenational average, and that they should takesteps to reduce them. There were 1,200fewer notifications than last year, but OSHAevaluations were down by 14% as well.
EPA Toxics Release Inventory(TRI) Program
In a May 19, 2004 memorandum,Kimberly T. Nelson, EPA AssistantAdministrator and Chief Information Officer,announced ongoing efforts to modernize andstreamline the Toxic Release Inventoryreporting program. A key initiative is themove to internet reporting. EPA is askingeach facility take full advantage of availableelectronic reporting with the use of the TRIMade Easy (TRI-ME) software and EPA=sCentral Data Exchange (CDX).
This year EPA intends to provide the publicwith an Electronic Facility Data Release(eFDR) in November. The eFDR will enablethe public to access TRI data on a facility-specific, form-by-form level on or aboutNovember 20, 2004, via EPA=s EnvirofactsWeb site. For additional information on theTRI program, go to www.epa.gov/tri.
EPA Chemical Spills RegulationsThe Environmental Protection Agency has
revised and updated its chemical accidentprevention regulations to require more time-ly reporting of incidents and additionaladministrative changes. The final rule waspublished in the Federal Register on April 9,2004 (FR 4/9/04, Vol. 69, No. 69, pp. 18819-18832). You may access the Federal Registerby going to the Government Printing Officeweb site at www.gpo.gov.
LEGISLATIVE ISSUESAsbestos Bill Still Alive
Although it still faces an impasse on fund-ing issues and other provisions, S.2290, a billwhich would establish a trust fund to com-pensate asbestos victims, is still alive in theSenate, although as each day goes by, itbecomes less likely we will see final action
Ohio Legislature Passes ImportantSilica Measure
In a victory for Ohio business, on May 24the Ohio Senate passed, and the Ohio Houseconcurred, HB 342, legislation that wouldrequire claimants contending they have silico-sis or silica-based illnesses to meet precisemedical criteria before proceeding with litiga-tion. Claimants would have to show that theyare indeed ill before a case could move for-ward. The medical standards are based onguidelines of the American Bar Association.
The legislation now goes to the governor forsignature. Ohio Rep. Chris Widener was thechief sponsor of the bill. He is to be com-mended, as are the many Ohio businessmenand citizens who supported passage of themeasure which should be considered a modelfor the rest of the nation. (Note: Thanks tocontributing reporter Steve Nock of The Nockand Son Company for sharing this good newswith the industry.)
Lafarge Calcium AluminatesAnnounces Personnel Updates
Ron Rohletter, National Sales Manager tothe North American refractory industry, willretire from Lafarge Calcium Aluminates(LCA) in June. Ron joined LCAin 1984, and,in his twenty years of service, held the posi-tions of Midwest Sales Representative andRefractory National Sales Manager. Ron willcontinue to reside in Columbus, Ohio.
Nancy Bunt will assume the position ofNorth American Refractory Market Managerfor LCA in June. Nancy has been withLafarge since 1991, previously holding thepositions of Ceramic Engineer, TechnicalManager, and, most recently, CorporateMarket Manager based in Paris, France.Nancy may be reached at: Large CalciumAluminates, 1316 Priority Lane,Chesapeake, VA 23324; phone: 757-284-3277; Fax: 757-284-3333; E-mail:[email protected].
Quarterly Survey Finds IndustryRecovering
Responses to the quarterly fax survey ofTRI members conducted in early April showan industry that appears to have turned thecorner to recovery. Of twenty-two completedsurvey forms, only one company reportedsales down slightly. A very respectable 82%
Continued on Page 37
6 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
Industry News
UPDATE
CELLULAR CONCRETE PUR-CHASES ALLENTOWNEQUIPMENT DIVISION
Cellular Concrete LLC, a fifty eight year-old supplier of admixtures for light weightconcrete in the roofing, flooring, geotechni-cal and precast business, has expanded intothe shotcrete equipment business by pur-chasing Allentown Equipment. CellularConcrete will take over all manufacturingand distribution of Allentown Equipmentincluding all of the dry and wet processequipment at its plant located in Allentown,PA.
Rich Palladino, president of CellularConcrete, thanked the transition team,headed by George Yoggy. “Many thankshave to go out to all those who gave theirinput in making this happen. Special thanksgo out to George for his contribution of wis-dom and experience in making this transi-tion a success.”
Jeffrey Pool, the newly appointedPresident, stated today, “Allentown is ingreat shape and geared up to meet the newdemand from its customers. Allentown isdedicated to a set of standards about prod-uct excellence and customer satisfactionthat is reminiscent of ‘the good old days’when your business associates knew yourname and agreements were finalized with ahandshake rather than a multi-page elec-tronic document.”
Allentown Equipment is the successor toThe Cement Gun Company, which original-ly commercialized the gunite process in1911. Allentown Equipment has continual-ly produced gunite and shotcrete equipmentsince that time in Allentown, PA.Allentown is the leading provider of shot-crete equipment, service and technology inthe world.
Allentown Equipment was sold by MasterBuilders, the Admixture Systems BusinessUnit of Degussa Construction Chemicals.Allentown Equipment and Master Builderswill continue to work together in a strategicalliance to supply Master Builders’ cus-tomers with shotcrete equipment.
Contact: Allentown Equipment, EmilyMoore, Tel: 610-398-0451 ext. 18, E-mail:[email protected]
and District Court originally entered ordersconfirming the plan in January of 2003, theorders were appealed to the United StatesCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Thatappeal was dismissed after the parties to theappeal settled.
Based on the recent court orders, theCompany was able to consummate its planon April 21, 2004 and as a result may nowoperate its business in the usual mannerunder court protection from existing andfuture asbestos-related lawsuits.
J.T. Thorpe Company filed a voluntarypetition for relief under Chapter 11 of theUnited States Bankruptcy Code on October1, 2002, to resolve liabilities associatedwith activities related to asbestos datingback to its inception in 1953.
Gerald W. Scott, J.T. Thorpe 's Presidentand Chief Executive Officer said, "Duringthe past several years, we have been work-ing diligently to bring about a comprehen-sive resolution of the asbestos liabilities ofJ.T. Thorpe Company. Based upon the con-clusion of this process, J.T. ThorpeCompany can now emerge free of anyfuture exposure to these liabilities.Furthermore, this process affords legal pro-tection from asbestos claims to ThorpeCorporation, Thorpe Products Companyand Leacon-Sunbelt, Inc. by virtue of pro-tective injunctions entered by the Court.
Despite the fact that the company wasotherwise healthy and profitable, the liabil-ity associated with asbestos claims necessi-tated the Chapter 11 reorganization. We arepleased to have concluded this reorganiza-tion such that we can turn our full, attentionto serving our customers and the growthand long-term success of our organization.We appreciate the loyalty of our employ-ees, customers and suppliers who haveallowed the company to conduct businessas usual as we have worked through thebankruptcy process."
J.T. Thorpe Company maintains officesand warehouses in Houston and Beaumont,Texas and Sulphur, Louisiana. The compa-ny operates as a specialty contractorengaged in the design, installation, mainte-nance and repair of refractory and acidmasonry linings and related products inindustrial settings. J.T. Thorpe Company isaffiliated through common ownership with
STELLAR MATERIALSACQUIRES THERMBONDREFRACTORY GROUP FROMJOHN ZINK LLC
Stellar Materials Incorporated, manufac-turer of Thermbond® refractory productsand Phoscrete® concrete products, acquiredthe Thermbond Refractory Group and allits key employees from John ZinkCompany effective 4/13/2004.
Stellar immediately gained an experi-enced and knowledgeable sales and instal-lation group that continues to fuel the rapidgrowth of their Thermbond business.
"This acquisition gives Stellar tremen-dous depth and the ability to pursue directinternational sales and better support ourexisting distributor network," said DavidMintz, Vice President of Stellar Materials.
The deal adds 11 people to Stellar's staff,including nine technical sales people, andtwo technical service people. Eight of the11 reside in the United States, three residein Europe.
Stellar Materials Incorporated, aMichigan Corporation was founded in 1990and is the manufacturer of Thermbondrefractories and Phoscrete concretes. BothThermbond and Phoscrete products utilizethe patented Stellar Binder System™ thatoffers significant advantages over tradition-al refractories and concretes.
Thermbond and Phoscrete are distrib-uted worldwide. For more informationcontact: Tom Atkins, Director ofWorldwide Sales and Marketing, StellarMaterials Incorporated, E-mail:[email protected], Tel: (561)330-9300 Fax: (561) 330-9355 or visitwww.stellarmaterials.com.
J.T. THORPE CO. EMERGESFROM CHAPTER 11
Houston-based specialty contractor J.T.Thorpe Company announced today that ishas emerged from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.On March 4, 2004 the United StatesBankruptcy Court and District Court for theSouthern District of Texas entered supple-mental orders confirming the company'splan of reorganization, which grants injunc-tions against asbestos lawsuits filed againstthe Company and its affiliates and providesfor the creation of a trust to benefit asbestosclaimants. Although the Bankruptcy Court
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 7
Industry News
Thorpe Products Company and Leacon -Sunbelt, Inc.
For more information contact: Gerald W.Scott, 713-644-1247
IMERYS LAUNCH TWO NEWWEB SITES
Imerys announce as part of their ongoingMarketing Communication strategy, thelaunch of two new websites for their table-ware and sanitaryware businesses. The twosites can be accessed at:
http://www.imerys-tableware.com
and
http://www.imerys-sanitaryware.com
For further information contact: JuliaPearson, Head of Communications:Performance Minerals Europe & FineCeramics, Tel: +44 1726 818112, Fax: +441726 623019, E-mail:[email protected]
JAY ENGLEBRECHTRETURNS TO PLIBRICOSALES & SERVICE,
Plibrico Sales & Service, Inc. is happy toannounce the return of Jay Englebrecht as asales representative for us in the state ofWashington. Jay sold Plibrico productswhile he worked for Plibrico's distributor,Refractories Northwest, for the years 1987through 1993. Overall Jay has 25+ yearsexperience in refractory sales and construc-tion. "Jay brings knowledge and integrity tothe table and we're happy he's back" statesBob Schultz, Plibrico's Vice President ofMarketing. "Washington State will be wellserved by Jay!" For more information con-tact: Bob Schultz, Plibrico Company,Chicago IL, E-mail: [email protected]
RESEARCH PORTFOLIOUNVEILED
The biannual Industry Member Meeting ofthe Center for Innovative Sintered Productstook place at the Penn State ConferenceCenter on 10-11 May. Some highlights ofthe meeting were identification of theresearch portfolio for the upcoming year,dissemination of research results, network-ing with colleagues from industry and aca-demia, information about NSF-SBIR inno-vation-through-partnership initiatives,assessment of opportunities and barriers ofelectrophoretic deposition, and a metal-cast-
ing and P/M perspective of dimensional pre-cision. Over eighty delegates met at thisexcellent venue to hear reports on a widevariety of research topics as well as capabil-ity presentations from twelve member com-panies. The business climate continues onthe upswing, as evidenced by the strongindustry attendance, spirited discussions,and positive business reports.
With an emphasis on student training andresearch, member companies had an oppor-tunity to vote on the suite of precompetitiveresearch projects for the upcoming year. Theprojects identified as a top priority are:
• Multiple-Axis in-situ Monitoring ofDimensional Changes in Debinding,Delubrication, Sintering, and HeatTreatment
• Press and Sinter Processing Realitieswith Nanoscale Powders (nano-P/M)
• Fundamental Limitations andCapabilities of High-Density P/M
• Crack Detection in Green Compacts• Selective Densification and
Finishing of PM Gears byAusforming
• Modeling Carbon and OxygenPotentials during Sintering
• Oxynon Furnace Evaluation• Application of Full Density Hard
Coatings to Ferrous P/M Materials
Positive feedback from delegates after thisevent confirmed its success. The Centeroffers a variety of services to help compa-nies add value to their business. To helpguide and direct this program, contactSharon Elder, Executive Director, at:[email protected].
US SPECIALTY SILICASDEMAND TO REACH $1.5 BIL-LION IN 2008
Demand for specialty silicas in the US isexpected to advance 6.5 percent yearly to$1.5 billion. In addition, gains will be fueledby a general pickup in economic activityfrom the 2000-2002 level, which will direct-ly benefit such key specialty silica marketsas paper, chemicals and industrial rubberproducts. These and other trends are pre-sented in Specialty Silicas, a new study fromThe Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industrial research firm.
Specialty Silicas (published 04/2004, 189pages) is available for $3,900 from theFredonia Group, Inc., 767 Beta Drive,Cleveland, OH 44143-2326. For furtherdetails, please contact Corinne Gangloff byTel: (440) 684-9600, Fax: (440) 646-0484or E-mail: [email protected] may also be obtained through:www.freedoniagroup.com.
ALMATIS ANNOUNCESEXPANSION
Almatis announced today the expansion ofground reactives batch mill capacity at theirBauxite, Arkansas manufacturing facility.The newly re-started reactives batch mill isnow successfully producing Almatis’ super-ground reactive products. Rapid growth inglobal demand for reactive alumina productssupports this expedited investment. Therecently announced, new large capacityreactives batch mill at the AlmatisLudwigshafen, Germany plant is on sched-ule for 4th quarter 2004 startup. High-per-formance reactive aluminas supply thegrowing refractory and ceramic markets.
The successful mill startup has addedcapacity for Almatis’ broad family of reac-tive alumina products, which includes A-16SG, A-1000 SG, RG-100, A-3000 FL, A-152SG and more. Superground reactive alumi-nas are mainly used for specialty ceramicproducts, as well as refractory matriximprovements.
“As an independent organization, focusedsolely on our core strength of specialty alu-mina materials supply, Almatis is better ableto serve all our customers. We are moreagile, more able to quickly respond to mar-ket demand.” Gangolf Kriechbaum,Almatis’ Chief Commercial Officer stated.
Almatis is a global supplier of specialtyalumina materials, including tabular alumi-na, calcined alumina, calcium aluminatecement, spinel, activated alumina, groundBayer hydrate, white hydrated alumina andfine precipitated aluminum hydroxide.Formerly Alcoa World Chemicals, Almatisis an independent company headquartered inFrankfurt, Germany.
Contact: For Europe and Asia: GabrieleDrees, +49 69 95 73 41 44. For Americas:Marilyn Kunka, (412) 630-2809 orwww.almatis.com RR AANN
8 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
In the latter half of the 20th Century,the refractory use of mullite, the 3:2compound in the alumina/silica sys-tem, 3Al2O3•2SiO2 became quite exten-sive. Although mullite is only found nat-urally on the Isle of Mull and just inrather small quantities there, it has beensynthetically produced in very largequantities from high alumina clays.Commercial production began in earnestas time progressed into the latter half ofthe 20th Century. One US domestic pro-
ducer even applied the name Mulcoa to their mullite products, giv-ing this important synthetic refractory compound a sort of miner-alogical identity that was all its own.
Within the United States in the states of Alabama and Georgia,the bauxitic kaolins that are common in the Eufaula area, near tothose states’ common border, was a focal point for extensive mul-lite production. It remains that way, as mullite production ispresently dominated by a single producer in the United States.There are, however, similar mullite production activities through-out the world, and they are located wherever the local clay miner-alogy suggests that the process is a viable one.
It must not be overlooked, that in addition to the use of high alu-mina clays as raw materials, the sillimanite group of minerals(kyanite, andalusite and sillimanite) have also been a source ofmullite for refractories. These minerals produce mullite via an in-situ decomposition reaction during the firing of the refractoryshapes, rejecting silica from their 1:1, Al2O3•SiO2 compounds athigh temperatures. Mullites originating from the sillimanite min-erals yield very different microstructures. They often have dis-tinctive crystal geometries and correspondingly, superior proper-ties with attendant advantages.
It is now history that synthetic refractory material productionactivity on a major scale was originally unique to mullite. Thiseditorial suggests that mullite may have only been the first ofmany, or at least of a couple of synthetic minerals that will achieveworldwide prominence in industrial refractory applications. As thetitle of the editorial suggests, spinel, and perhaps not only the mag-nesium aluminate spinel, MgAl2O4, but the entire class of spinelcompounds, both normal and inverse may be on the horizon as thenext of the synthetic refractory raw material giants.
That this might occur for spinel(s) is not wholly unexpected forthe presence of phases of the spinel crystal structure in refractories
Guest Technical Review
is not new. The commercial production of several different vari-eties of mag-chrome refractories has been common for at least halfa century. These very excellent chrome-ore-based refractory prod-ucts consist of a solid solution mix of several chrome, ferrite andaluminate spinels. It is these spinels that impart the excellent prop-erties to that mag-chrome refractory class. These refractories arewell respected for their high temperature stability and their out-standing corrosion resistance. Those features may be directlyattributed to the spinel crystalline phases of the constituents.
Prior to the mid-1980’s the use of the magnesium aluminatespinel, MgAl2O4, was not very common for the refractory liningsof industrial processing vessels. Today, however, an entirely dif-ferent situation exists as entire process vessel linings are made ofthis prototype synthetic spinel, or one of its derivative refractoryproducts. It is also used in numerous applications at individuallocations within some processing vessels. It is of interest to exam-ine why the magnesium aluminate spinel MgAl2O4 has recentlyachieved such a high level of acceptance within a time span thatamounts to just a couple of decades. Perhaps there is no betterplace to begin than to compare some of the most important refrac-tory properties of the spinel with those of mullite, the historicallyleading synthetic refractory mineral.
While one may debate as to what are the most important proper-ties for a refractory, this brief consideration will address just twoof the most critical ones, the melting points of the compounds andtheir free energies of formation. Then a few related issues will beconsidered to provide additional contributions to the question, orthe contention of this editorial article. The melting points of thetwo compounds are both above the usual temperatures of moststeelmaking processes. Mullite melts at ~1900˚C and the magne-sium aluminate spinel at ~2100˚C. This appears to give a slightthermal advantage to the spinel. The free energies are an indicationof the chemical stability of the compound and they indicate aneven greater advantage for spinel. The free energies are listed fora couple of high temperatures of interest.
This comparison of the two refractory compounds gives a dis-tinct chemical stability advantage to the magnesium aluminatespinel. It also suggests that the spinel may be more readily formedfrom its constituent oxides, if all of the kinetic considerations areequal. Although they will not be discussed here, most of the otherspinel structures have similarly high melting points and also largenegative free energies of formation. Of course, this is partially thereason why the previously mentioned mag-chrome refractorieshave been so successful in highly aggressive and corrosive high
Mg-Al SPINEL: IS IT THE MULLITE OF THE21st CENTURY?Prof. Richard C. “Dick” Bradt*, Alton N. Scott Professor of Engineering, Department of Metallurgical andMaterials Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0202 USA, [email protected]
Dr. Richard C. Bradt
*Dr. Bradt is the first holder of the Alton N. Scott Professorship, he is also a Distinguished Life Member of UNITECR, a formerChairman of the Refractories Division of the American Ceramic Society and the 1988 Recipient of the T.J. Planje, St. Louis RefractoriesAward.
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 9
temperature environments. Very few oxides, excepting CaO andMgO have superior melting point / free energy of formation com-binations when compared to that of spinel. Many of them are noteconomically suitable for large scale refractory production. Ofcourse MgO is extensively used in many steelmaking applicationsand CaO has sometimes been called the ultimate refractory.
Consideration of a couple of the other usually-considered refrac-tory properties or characteristics is appropriate. Thermal expan-sion is always of concern. Of course the thermal expansion is afunction of temperature, usually increasing with increasing tem-peratures. The average thermal expansion for mullite is ~3-5 x10-6/˚C, while that of the magnesium aluminate spinel is ~6-9 x10-6/˚C, both from room temperature through ~1200˚C. The lowerthermal expansion for mullite may be considered to be a distinctadvantage as it suggests lower thermal stress development duringtemperature excursions during operating conditions of processvessels, as well as during the initial heating of a newly installedprocess vessel lining.
Other considerations must also certainly include the microstruc-ture, or the texture of the refractory products. It is well known thatthe mullite crystals in most aluminosilicate refractory bodies havea lath-like, almost fibrous microstructure. They are reminiscent ofa random fiber composite with their tortuous intergrowth net-works. The magnesium aluminate spinel on the other hand has anequiaxed microstructure typical of many high-tech ceramics.Although no direct comparison of the R-curves of these two typesof refractories has been published to the knowledge of this author,it is not too difficult to imagine that the intergrowths of the mullitecrystal lathes may exhibit more rapidly rising R-curves than theequiaxed spinel microstructures. This suggests that the mullitemay be more resistant to thermal shock damage.
Both mullite and the magnesium aluminate spinel experience avolumetric expansion when they are formed from their individualconstituent oxides. This characteristic can provide a distinctadvantage in applications for both materials. In the case of mul-lite, it is related to the familiar reheat expansion test and may beused to advantage when lining rotary kilns. A little additional mul-lite formation during operation at high temperatures tightens therotating lining within the kiln shell. Expansion of the magnesiumaluminate spinel has proven equally useful. Additional magnesiain the Al2O3–MgO–C refractory brick system allows for spinel for-mation during operation to continually tighten the linings of ladlesand perhaps repair, or close thermal stress cracks as well during thecampaign life of these refractories. Other advantages of the expan-sion are left to the design imaginations of the refractory engineers,but they clearly offer distinct advantages for both systems in par-ticular applications.
How else can the two compounds be compared? Perhaps theirrespective phase equilibrium diagrams offer another basis from afundamental perspective? Each is the only compound in theirrespective binary system, Al2O3–SiO2 and Al2O3–MgO, respec-tively. Setting aside the controversy of the melting of mullite, any
alumina-rich compositions in the alumina-silica system would notbe expected to seriously compromise melting of the two phase mix-ture. However, the presence of excess silica would create liquids athigher temperatures for the silica-mullite eutectic is only ~1600˚C.By contrast, the alumina-magnesia system, even though havingeutectics on both sides of the centrally located spinel compoundwould not be expected to develop liquids on either side until~1900˚C, which corresponds to the alumina-rich side. This mightbe an advantage in some steelmaking processes. It is also anotheradvantage, for both magnesia-rich and alumina-rich two phasespinel refractories are possible and in fact are currently commer-cially available. As an additional point, the range of stoichiometryof the magnesium aluminate spinel phase is considerably greaterthan that of mullite especially at very high temperatures where thephase field is quite expanded.
As a further consideration, it is probably also desirable to reviewor explore some of the applications of the magnesium-aluminatespinel to gain a perspective of its growth during the past couple ofdecades. One of the early applications was the use of spinel brickin cement kiln linings, an application which has continued to growwith the introduction of commercial non-stoichiometric varieties ofthe spinel. Uses in steelmaking, aluminum, petrochemical andglass melting applications continue to increase. The use in steelmelting ladles, both as the spinel linings and as an additive to alu-mina castables continues to increase for the spinel has been foundto increase the lifetime of the linings. The unique character of in-situ formation of spinel by adding magnesia to high alumina casta-bles has been reported to have very beneficial effects on the corro-sion resistance of those refractories. This is not surprising for whenthe spinel is formed in-situ, it expands and reduces the sizes of theinternal pore channels. This naturally reduces the penetration ofthe refractory structure by molten metals and slags.
One of the most interesting technical utilizations of spinel relatesto the spinel formation volumetric expansion. It has been in theAl2O3–MgO–C refractory system for steel melting ladles. The ben-efits of the two classes of MgO–C and Al2O3–C refractories, bothwith and without antioxidants, have been long appreciated in steel-making process vessels. The use of a magnesia addition to theAl2O3–C variety has proven rather innovative. The magnesia addi-tion does not initially fully react with the alumina to form the spinelphase. Rather, as the refractory lining gradually wears away, thehot zone penetrates deeper into the original refractory lining andcontinually promotes additional reaction of the free magnesia andalumina towards the cold face. This continual formation of addi-tional spinel and its associated volumetric increase continuallytightens the vessel lining. The spinel formation puts the refractorylining into compression, closing any cracks that may develop, sig-nificantly extending the lifetime of the vessel lining.
Similar to the aluminosilicates, the spinels have also been makingsignificant advances in their castable technology. As history mightbe expected to dictate, the early spinel castables initially werebonded with the conventional calcium aluminate cements.
10 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
However, not unexpectedly, development of low melting com-pounds from the presence of CaO in the cement have provenless than optimal. Recent castable systems have tended to bebased on intrinsic bonds developed with the use of transitionaluminas. These bond systems are naturally compatible withthe magnesium-aluminate spinel and being lime-free are alsoimmune to lower melting temperature compound formation.
The above are only a partial summary of the virtues andapplications of spinel as a refractory material. It should neverbe expected to be the catch all refractory that replaces all otherrefractories, but it clearly has some unique characteristics thatmake it extremely attractive for many applications. Some ofthem have been discussed above. However, in consideringspinel, it is necessary to keep in perspective that much of theearlier industrial production of magnesium-aluminate spinelshas been of the much more costly experimental-developmental
variety. The industrial processes include: (i) adding magnesiato typical tabular alumina production processes, (ii) addingalumina to magnesia calcining shaft kilns, and (iii) the directfusion of alumina and magnesia in electric arc furnaces. Thistype of production has naturally put spinel at a cost disadvan-tage in some applications and cost is an important considera-tion. It is not unreasonable to assume that the costs of the newspinels over the past decade has somewhat inhibited their com-mercial growth in metallurgical and other applications. This istrue even when the spinel refractory has fundamental technicaladvantages. As with all new production processes, in thefuture these cost disadvantages are expected to gradually dis-appear and eventually increase the economical competitivenature of the magnesium aluminate spinel refractories and per-haps other spinels as well. RR AANN
Please send meeting announcements along withcomplete contact information to Mary Lee at: [email protected]
64th CONFERENCE ON GLASS PROBLEMSCESP (Ceramic Engineering & Science Proceedings), Volume 25,Issue 1, 2004
Trudy Kriven, Editor
This proceeding contains 22 papers presented during the 64thConference on Glass Problems, held October 27-28, 2003 at theUniversity of Illinois. Contents cover Refractories, Energy andCombustion, Process Control, and Emerging Areas.
ADVANCES IN FUSION AND PROCESSING OFGLASS III (ISBN: 1-57498-156-0)Ceramic Transactions, Volume 141
James R. Varner, Thomas P. Seward III, and Helmut A. Schaeffer,Editors
This proceedings volume contains 47 papers presented at the sev-enth in a series of international conferences on 'Advances in Fusionand Processing of Glass, which was held in Rochester, NY, July 27-31, 2003. The more than 140 participants from fourteen countries,experts from industry and academia, met in this international forumto discuss and seek new solutions to the challenges of glass manu-facturing, particularly as they pertain to melting and forming. Glasscontinues to be a material of great scientific and technologicalinterest; however, the economic pressures on the glass industry, theemphasis on global markets, and the worldwide attention to energyand environmental conservation that emerged in the late nineteeneighties continue to increase. The conference addressed key topics
related to keeping glass competitive as a material. Contents coverAdvances in the Glass Melting Process, Characterization of GlassMelts/Glass Melt Properties, Materials for Glassmaking, Advancesin Glass Forming, Polyvalent Elements and Redox Behavior,Effects of Composition and Forming on Structure and Properties,Emissions, Recycling and Other Environmental Issues, ComputerModeling and Process Control, and Secondary Processing.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND WASTEMANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES IN THECERAMIC AND NUCLEAR INDUSTRIES IX(ISBN: 1-57498-209-5)Ceramic Transactions Volume 155
John D. Vienna, Dane Spearing, Editors
In today's world of increasingly stringent environmental regula-tions, it is critical to identify and adequately address environmen-tal issues in the ceramic industry to ensure success. In addition,ceramics and glasses play a critical role in the nuclear industry.Nuclear fuels and waste forms for low-level and high-levelradioactive, mixed, and hazardous wastes are primarily eitherceramic of glass. Effective and responsible environmental steward-ship is becoming increasingly more important in the world.Contents cover Ceramics for Waste or Nuclear Applications, andMelter Processing and Process Monitoring.For more information see:http://www.acers.org/publications/books/mainmenu.asp RR AANN
The Bookshelf
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 11
Institution Profile . . .
The usual sources of funding at the Mechanical Testing andResearch Lab. are governmental institutions as the NationalUniversity of Mar del Plata (UNMdP); National Research Councilfor Science and Technology (CONICET); Research Council ofBuenos Aires (CIC); National Agency of Promotion for Scienceand Technology (ANPCyT); Cooperation ProjectsSpanish/Argentinean National Research Councils (CSIC/CON-ICET), and private sector as Antorchas Foundation. A part of thebudget is supported since 1998 through a contract with a siderur-gical industry (SIDERAR S.A.I.C.-TECHINT) concerning torefractories and through tests and consulting works currentlyrequired from local commercial companies.
The objectives of the work at Mechanical Testing and ResearchLaboratory are:• to carry out basic and applied research in the field of ceram-
ics with emphasis on their structural applications.• to interact with local and national related industries offering
technical assistance going from simple tests to jointly sup-ported projects and consulting work to develop tests, pro-cessings, and products.
• to contribute actively to the formation of highly qualifiedhuman resources, by participating in teaching activities at theundergraduate and graduate levels through Engineering pro-grams in the Materials Department at the EngineeringSchool-UNMdP.
• to communicate the results of the research activities throughpublications, conferences, meetings.
• to cooperate through international research projects withother national and foreign institutions.
The research areas are the following.
Processing: This area mainly involves experimental activitiesdevoted to the development of new or enhanced ceramics used instructural applications. The aim is to improve the mechanicalresponse of ceramics by microstructural control through the studyof the raw materials and the several steps of the processings, spe-cially forming and sintering.
Mechanical tests and behavior: Research activities in this areaare dedicated to evaluate the mechanical behavior (fractomechan-ic parameters measurements, fractographic analysis and determi-nation of fracture mechanisms) of both advanced ceramics andrefractories at high temperatures. The development of technologi-cal tools (methods and devices) for testing of ceramics is includedin this area.
Numerical modeling: It constitutes a powerful tool used as acomplement for some researches in thermomechanical data evalu-ation. A commercial FEM code is used in order to simulate tem-perature and thermal and mechanical stresses profiles.
INTEMA is a ResearchInstitute in Science andTechnology of Materialsof the Argentine NationalResearch Council forScience and Technology(CONICET) and the Mardel Plata NationalUniversity (UNMdP). Ithas 120 members,including professors,principal investigators,postdoctoral research
associates, and undergraduate and graduate students. The Instituteis located at the Engineering School/UNMdP and is organized insix divisions (Catalysts and Surfaces, Ceramics, Corrosion,Metallurgy, Polymers, and Welding & Fracture Mechanics) whichcarry out research, teaching and technology transfer activitiesrelated to metallic, polymeric and ceramic materials. There is alsoan interdisciplinary group (Tribology related to both the Welding& Fracture Mechanics and Metallurgy divisions) and supportingfacilities (library, glass and machine shops and electronic labora-tory).
The main research subjects at Ceramics Division are ceramicsfor electronics (tin oxide sensors, dielectric composites, bariumtitanate based-ceramics, tin oxide varistors); bioceramics (calciumphosphate cements, porous hydroxyapatite, functional hybridmicrospheres, bioactive glasses for implants); structural ceramics(processing and thermo-mechanical behavior at high temperaturesof advanced ceramics and refractories); ceramic materials magnet-ic (spinels) and metal-ceramic composites (Fe/Ti-Al2O3) frommechanochemically activated systems; sol-gel organic-inorganiccoatings (bioactive and protective on Co-base alloys; protective onmild steels; hybrid for mechanical protection of glass).
MECHANICAL TESTING AND RESEARCHLABORATORY
The research group on structural ceramics started its activities in1993 as the Mechanical Testing and Research Laboratory at theCeramics Division. This laboratory has currently one PrincipalInvestigator, two Postdoctoral Research Associates, A. L.Cavalieri, and M. A. Camerucci and A. G. Tomba Martinez- andpart-time technical and administrative people. The non-permanentstaff comprises visiting scientists, and undergraduate and graduatestudents who work to obtain their degrees in MaterialsEngineering or the Materials Science MSc and Ph.D., respective-ly.
MECHANICAL TESTING AND RESEARCHLABORATORY-CERAMICS DIVISION ATINTEMA UNMdP/CONICET-ARGENTINAM. Andrea Camerucci, Analía G. Tomba Martinez and Ana Lía Cavalieri, [email protected]
Engineering School, NationalUniversity of Mar del Plata.
12 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
The groups are connected with national and foreign institutionsor researchers: a) Technology Center of Minerals Resources andCeramics (CETMIC); Physical Dept.-National Commission ofAtomic Energy (CNEA); Bariloche Atomic Center (CAB);Argentinean Iron and Steel Institute (IAS); ArgentineGeological and Mining Survey (SEGEMAR); Materials Dept.-Institute of Scientific and Technical Researches of ArgentineArmy (CITEFA); National University of Rosario; NationalTechnological University of San Nicolás at Argentina and b)Institute of Ceramics and Glass (ICV) and Materials Instituteof the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid-Spain; University of La Habana-Cuba; Department of CeramicEngineering of Missouri, Rolla-USA; and the Department ofMaterials at Federal University of San Carlos-Brazil.
The main facilities of the Laboratory are the following:
Universal testing machine (Instron 8501): For flexure, compres-sion and tension or tension/tension fatigue tests of advanced ceram-ics and refractories at high temperatures. The machine is a servo-hydraulic system with high load frame stiffness, 100 kN loadcell,hydrostatic bearing actuator; hydraulic power pack flow rate 45l/min; cooler system by air. For room temperature tests, compressionanvils with spherical seat; COD (5x2) and dynamic extensometer(12.5mm ± 20%) and a two channel crack-length system controlledby crack-gages (Fractomat 1288) are available and both bend 3-pointwith variable span and biaxial flexure fixtures were designed andconstructed.
1500°C split furnace: Furnace has MoSi2 heating elements (SFL5666C), alumina compression pushrods with water cooling adaptersand fully articulated bend SiC fixtures with (4-point) and without (3-and 4-point) integral LVDT center point deflectometer are availablein order to carry out high temperature bending tests of advancedceramics. A second furnace with MoSi2 heating elements (SFL822D), a high temperature capacitive extensometer (± 0.1 mm) andcalibrator and tensile grips that allow to improve the alignment of thespecimen gripped outside of the furnace hot zone are available foradvanced ceramics tensile testing. The appropriated loading devicesto measure the thermal expansion and creep in compression andstress/strain curves of monolithic refractories and bricks, in air or incontrolled atmospheres such as N2, were design and constructed.Loads are applied through dense sintered bars of mullite-alumina(composition from Cetmic-MRE S.A., Argentina) in an own designsystem using the water cooling adapters. An axial extensometer(15mm LVDT) for high temperature based in a scissors systemwas designed and constructed.
Indentation hardness tester: (Tukon 300, Wilson Instruments)that employs both the Vickers and the Knoop diamond indenters withloads from 1 to 10,000 g to test porcelain, ceramics and glasses.
Thermal shock system: A methodology to study the thermalshock behavior by sudden cooling in air and mechanical evaluationin biaxial flexure to test advanced ceramics was implemented. Theequipment was designed and constructed and a software for the testcontrol and the temperature data acquisition was created.
Hot adhesion system: A test to do a quantitative evaluation of theadhesion of monolithic refractories hot gunned on refractory brickswas established. The test is based on the measurement of torsionalforces at high temperatures. For gunning, a pressure projection sys-tem was design and constructed.
RECENT PUBLICATIONSA.G. Tomba, A.L. Cavalieri, “Evaluation of the Heat Transfer
Coefficient in Thermal Shock of Alumina Disks,” Mat. Sci. Eng., A276, 76-82 (2000).
A.G. Tomba, A.L. Cavalieri, “Ceramic Surface Finish: its Influ-ence on the Heat Transfer in Thermal Shock Tests,” Mat. Lett., 42,240-45 (2000).
A.G. Tomba, A.L. Cavalieri, “Surface Finish and MechanicalStrength of Dense Alumina,” Mat. Res. Bull, 35, 1077-85 (2000).
A.G. Tomba, A.L. Cavalieri, “Alumina Disks with Different Sur-face Finishing: Thermal Shock Behavior,” J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 20,889-90 (2000).
G. Urretavizcaya, J.M. Porto López, A.L. Cavalieri, “PressurelessSintering of Alumina Gel Matrix Composites,” Mat. Lett., 43, 281-285 (2000).
M.A. Camerucci, G. Urretavizcaya, A.L. Cavalieri, “Thermal,Mechanical and Electrical Evaluation of Cordierite-MulliteComposite Materials,” Mat. Res. (Brazil), 3[4] 124-30 (2000) (inSpanish).
A.G. Tomba, A.L. Cavalieri, “Numerical Simulation of ThermalShock of Alumina Disks with Different Surface Finish,” J. Eur.Ceram. Soc., 21, 1205-1212 (2001).
M.A. Camerucci, G. Urretavizcaya, A.L. Cavalieri, “MechanicalBehavior of Cordierite and Cordierite-mullite Materials Evaluatedby Indentation Techniques,” J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 21[9], 1195-1204(2001).
A.G. Tomba, A.L. Cavalieri, “FEM Analysis of Alumina UnderMechanical and Thermal Stresses (in Spanish),” Mat. Res., 4[1], 7-12 (2001).
The 1500°C split furnace to testadvanced ceramics in bending.
The 1600°C two zone shortfurnace to test refractoriesin compression.
Scissors axial extensometerfor refractory deformationmeasurements at high tem-perature.
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 13
M.A. Camerucci, G. Urretavizcaya, M.S.Castro, A.L. Cavalieri, “Electrical Proper-ties and Thermal Expansion of Cordieriteand Cordierite-mullite Materials”. J. Eur.Ceram. Soc., 21[16] 2917-2923 (2001).
A.G. Tomba, A.L. Cavalieri, “FractureAnalysis of Alumina Subjected to Mechani-cal and Thermal Shock Biaxial Stresses," J.Am. Ceram. Soc., 85[4], 921-26 (2002).
A.G. Tomba, M.A. Camerucci, G.Urretavizcaya, A.L. Cavalieri, “Behavior ofCordierite Under Mechanical and ThermalBiaxial Stresses,” British Ceramic Trans.,101[3], 94-99 (6) (2002).
G. Gasillón, A.G. Tomba, A.L. Cavalieri,M. de Córdova, R. Topolevsky, “Hot Adhe-sion of Gunning Refractory Mixtures,”Refractories Applications and News, 7[4]20-23 (2002).
M.A. Camerucci, G. Urretavizcaya, A.L.Cavalieri, “Sintering Behavior of CordieriteBased Materials,” Ceram. Intl., 29[2] 159-168 (2003).
Measures Young’s Modulus, Shear Modulus and Poisson’sratio of various objects by analyzing their vibrationalbehavior following an impulseexcitation.
Available in configurationsadapted for room temperature, elevated temperature (max.1100oC), and automated producttesting.
Complies with ASTM C1259,C666, C215 and E 1876.
Call todayfor a free evaluation test.
J.W. LEMMENSDynamic Materials Testing Instruments
Website: www.grindosonic.com
USA3466 Bridgeland DriveSt. Louis, MO 63044-2606Tel. 314-770-2200Fax 314-770-22621-800-437-3884E-mail: jwlinc@grindosonic .com
EUROPEGeldenaaksebaan 456B-3001 Leuven l BELGIUMTel. +32-16 391500Fax +32-16 400182E-mail: [email protected]
diverse land with lakes, deserts, seas,mountains and valleys.
Iran, as a bridge, links the Caspian Sea,to the Persian Gulf, and also it is a cross-roads on the way of east to west, i.e. thejunction of cultural, intellectual and politi-cal manifestations of the worlds of east andwest.
Limpid water springs, pomegranateorchards, pistachio gardens, rows ofLombard poplars, decampment of nomadsin different seasons, stelliferous night,rocks, mountains, endless high and lowlands, snow clad extinct volcanoes, luxuri-ant forests of Alborz mountains range, andcoastlines of the Caspian Sea are amongstthe eye-catching and memorable land-scapes of Iran's nature which leave uniquememories in the minds of tourists.
Front Cover Description Continued fromPage 1
Journées Spécialisées sur les Réfractaires(Selected Topics on Refractories – AShort Conference)
Orléans, France, September 15-16, 2004; organized by Groupement Français de la Céramique, the University of Orléans, the Polytechnical Institute
of Orléans, the Laboratoire de Mécanique des Systèmes et des Procédés, and the Center of Research of High Temperature Materials. For more
information see http://www.univ-orleans.fr/polytech/colloque/
G. Gasillón, A.G. Tomba, A.L. Cavalieri,M. de Córdova, R. Topolevsky,“Mechanical Evaluation at High Tempera-tures of Hot Gunning Refractory Mixtures,”J. Mat. Res., 18[2] (2003).
N.J. Azin, M.A. Camerucci, A.L.Cavalieri, “Crystallization of Glasses in theAl2O3-SiO2-MgO System,” Ceram. Intl. (inpress, 2004).
A. Gomez Sánchez, M.A. Cavalieri, A.L.Tomba, A.G. Martinez, “Study of GunningRefractory Mixtures by MOR Tests,” Cem.Con. Res. (in revision, 2003).
L. B. Garrido, E.F. Aglietti, L. Martorello,M.A. Camerucci, A.L. Cavalieri, “Hardnessand Fracture Toughness of Mullite-zirconiaComposites,” Mat. Res. Bull. (in revision,2003).
For more information about CeramicsDivision contact: [email protected],Tel: 54-223-4816600 Int. 238, Fax: 54-223-4810046 RR AANN
Iran is one of the only countries in theworld which has the complete four sea-sons.In summer, the weather can be cool aswell as warm, and in the cold winters, it canbe mild.
Iran has a variety of climates, rangingfrom very cold and snowy to very hot anddry regions, providing the opportunity toski on the mountains and swim in the sea onthe same day in many seasons.
From numerous important historical sitesin Iran, we can mention for example:Persepolis in Shiraz, Naqsh-e-Jahan Squarein Isfahan, Choqazanbil temple in Ahvaz,Arg-e-Bam in Kerman.
For more information about this country,you may check this website: http://itto.orgRR AANN
14 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
Feature Article. . .
KEY PROPERTIES FOR THE OPTIMIZATIONOF REFRACTORY CASTABLE DRYINGM. M. Akiyoshi, F. A. Cardoso, M. D. M. Innocentini and V. C. Pandolfelli, Department of MaterialsEngineering, Federal University of São Carlos 13565-905, S. Carlos, SP, Brazil, [email protected]
Drying is one of the most complex steps in refractory castableprocessing due to the considerable risk of damage or explosivespalling during the first heat-up. To provide a basis to optimize thedrying step of refractory castables, this work correlates themechanical strength and permeability with the mass loss rate andsurface temperature profiles of high-alumina, ultra-low cementcastables cured at different temperatures.
1. INTRODUCTIONThe increasing demand for better and cheaper pre-cast refractory
products has motivated the search for safer and shorter dryingschedules in the refractory industry. However, drying is still a cru-cial step in castable processing, because improper heating sched-ules may lead to mechanical damage or even explosions when thetensile stress generated by pressurized vapor inside the refractoryexceeds the material’s mechanical strength.
Low curing temperatures of less than 20ºC [1-8], followed by fastheating rates, have been identified as one of the most importantfactors to promote spalling. More comprehensive analyses haverevealed that the curing temperature and its time affect permeabil-ity and mechanical strength, both associated with the likelihood ofspalling [2, 3]. This work therefore aims to correlate the perme-ability and mechanical strength with the mass loss rate and surfacetemperature profiles of high-alumina, ultra-low cement castablescured at 10ºC and 50ºC, in order to provide the basis for a betterunderstanding of this important step in the production of refracto-ry castables.
2. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDUREThe castables tested here consisted of high-alumina, ultra-low
cement (2 wt%), containing 4.50 wt% of water (dry basis). Theparticle size distribution was adjusted to a theoretical curve, basedon Andreasen’s packing model with a coefficient of distribution ofq=0.21 (maximum aggregate size: 4.5 mm). Alcoa S.A. suppliedall the raw materials, and further details of the composition aregiven elsewhere [3]. Castable samples having a 7.5 cm diameterand 2.5 cm thickness were prepared for the permeability tests,while those for the mechanical strength and drying tests were castin the shape of 4 cm x 4 cm cylinders. The samples subjected topermeability and mechanical strength evaluations were pre-driedin silica gel at the curing temperature [7]. To evaluate the surfacetemperature, a thin K-type thermocouple (0.2 mm diameter) wasinserted near the surface (1 mm depth) to record the sample’s actu-al heating profile. The castables were cured at 10ºC or 50ºC (rela-tive humidity of ~ 100%) for 48 h in a climatic chamber (Vötsch).Considering the same length of time [7], low curing temperaturesprovide a smaller degree of hydration than higher temperatures.Therefore, the castable samples were cured up to 16 days, allowingthe ones cured at 10ºC and those cured at 50ºC to be exposed to asimilar degree of hydration.
Mechanical strength was evaluated through a splitting test [9], ata loading rate of 42 N/s to keep the stress rate within a range of690-1380 kPa/min. The splitting tensile strength was calculated by:
where P (N) is the maximum load, and d (mm) and h (mm) arethe samples’ diameter and height, respectively.
Air permeability at room temperature was evaluated based onForchheimer’s equation [10] for compressible fluids and adjustingthe k1 (Darcian) and k2 (non-Darcian) constants:
where Pi (Pa) and Po (Pa) are, respectively, the absolute air pres-sures at the entrance and exit of the sample, vs (m/s) is the fluidvelocity, L (m) is the sample’s thickness, µ (Pa•s) is the air viscos-ity and ρ (kg/m3) is the air density, evaluated for Po = 690 mmHg(92•103 Pa) and T = 25ºC.
Dewatering tests were performed in a thermogravimetric appara-tus [11] consisting of a digital scale (400±0.001 g) coupled to a fur-nace (maximum working temperature: 1000ºC). The tendency forexplosive spalling was evaluated at a heating rate of 20ºC/min,while the drying profiles were performed at 10ºC/min.
Mass loss during drying was assessed through the parameters Wand Wd, defined as:
where M is the instantaneous mass recorded at time ti during theheating stage, Mo is the initial mass and Mf is the final (dry) massof the tested sample. The variable W evaluates the cumulative frac-tion of water expelled during the heat-up per total amount of waterinitially present in the body (W varied from zero to 100% duringthe test), while Wd relates the water loss to the dry weight of thebody (in the range of 4.5% in the composition studied).
The mass loss and surface heating rates were then evaluatedusing equations (5) and (6), respectively.
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 15
In equation (6), Ts is the surface temperature and t is the time.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONThe castables cured at 10ºC and 50ºC are identified here as
castable-10 and castable-50, respectively. Table 1 lists theexplosion temperature at a 20ºC/min heating rate, the splittingtensile strength (σf) and the permeability constants (k1 and k2)for the castables studied. As expected, the curing temperatureand time affected the castable permeability and mechanicalstrength.
All the castables cured at 10ºC (regardless of the curing time)exploded when tested at 20ºC/min, while castable-50 did notundergo spalling. During two days of curing, castable-10 dis-played lower permeability (k1=2.4•10-16 m2 and k2=176•10-16 m)and lower mechanical strength (σf=1.3 MPa) than did castable-50 (k1=3 •10-16 m2, k2=311 •10-16 m and σf=2.0 MPa). These dif-
ferences confirmed the greater tendency for explosion of casta-bles cured at low temperatures.
According to the literature [8-10], low curing temperaturesinduce the formation of low density hydrates such asCaO•Al2O3•10H2O (CAH10, ρ=1.72 g/cm3) and alumina gel,providing stronger and less permeable structures. On the otherhand, at higher curing temperatures, denser hydrates such as2CaO•Al2O3•8H2O (C2AH8
, ρ=1.95 g/cm3), 3CaO•Al2O3•6H2O(C3AH6, ρ=2.52 g/cm3) and Al(OH)3 (AH3, ρ=2.42 g/cm3) areformed and more permeable, weaker castables are generated.
The curing temperature affects the cement hydration kinetics[3,8], which is the main factor responsible for mechanicalstrength before firing. Although curing at low temperaturesfavors the formation of stronger structures, the lower mechan-ical strength after curing at 10ºC for two days may be associat-ed with the slower hydration rate of the cement at low temper-atures. The greater strength attained in castable-10 after 16days of curing reinforces this assumption. Due to its fasterhydration kinetics, the hydration of castable-50 was almostcomplete after two days, while the mechanical strength ofcastable-10 increased continuously as the curing time pro-gressed [3].
Despite its slower hydration rate, the permeability constantsk1 and k2 were smaller for castable-10 due to the low densityphases formed. The permeability continued to decrease as thecuring time progressed because the amount of these phasesincreased as the hydration proceeded.
Comparing castable-10 cured for different lengths of time,one finds that, after 16 days, although its permeability waslower, its superior mechanical strength allowed the explosiontemperature to increase from 426ºC to 440ºC. However, ana-lyzing castable-10 and castable-50 cured for 16 days, the for-mer’s explosive spalling when heated at 20ºC/min can beascribed to its lower permeability, even though it displayedgreater mechanical strength.
Correlations between mechanical strength, permeability andexplosive tendency can be assessed by analyzing the mass lossand surface temperature profiles.
The drying steps of pre-fired, moistened, refractory castablessubjected to a constant heating rate can be divided into threestages [11] that are associated, respectively, to the evaporationand the ebullition of free water, and the dehydration of chemi-cally bonded water due to cement and reactive alumina hydra-tion. The same association was used here to analyze the unfiredcastables cured at 10ºC and 50ºC. However, because unfiredsamples were used, the evaporation and ebullition profiles mayshow some overlapping contribution of the cement hydratephases (CAH10 and C2AH8) that decompose below 200ºC.
Figure 1. (a) Mass loss (W) and mass loss rate (dW/dt); (b) sur-face heating rate (dTs/dt) for castables cured at 10ºC or 50ºCfor two days. (Furnace heating rate: 10ºC/min). Where: I –mainly evaporation, II – mostly ebullition and III – decompo-sition of hydrates.
16 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
During the ebullition stage, the vapor trapped inside thecastable may become pressurized, and the less permeable thestructure the greater the possibility of pressurization. Fractureor explosion will take place when the stress generated by thepressure surpasses the material’s mechanical strength. Thus,the greater the mechanical strength, the higher the explosiontemperature.
In the case of the samples tested here, after two days of cur-ing, castable-50 presented a larger amount of hydrated phasesthan castable-10 [7], as indicated by the superior intensity ofpeak T3 in Figure 1a. This may represent an additional problemin castables with higher cement content because C3AH6 andAH3 will decompose, reducing the mechanical strength andgenerating large amounts of vapor at higher temperatures.
In stage II, the amount of water loss in the castables was sim-ilar because part of the hydrates formed at 50ºC decomposedbelow 250ºC. Comparing the behaviors in stage III, castable-50 (W3=14%) displayed a 7% higher weight loss than castable-10 (W3=7%). This value (7%) is similar to the difference in thecastables’ water loss in the first stage.
The correlation of the mechanical strength and permeabilitywith the mass loss and surface temperature profiles led to con-clude that low permeability is the main cause for the tendencyfor explosive spalling of castables cured at low temperatures,since it favors the entrapment of vapor inside the structure,exposing the castable to higher pressures and higher real heat-ing rates.
4. CONCLUSIONSIn high-alumina, ultra-low cement castables, curing tempera-
tures of 10ºC and 50ºC promoted significant differences inmechanical strength and permeability, whose effects wereillustrated by the mass loss and surface heating rate profiles.The greater explosive tendency during the first heat-up for thisclass of castables cured at low temperatures (<20ºC) can beassociated with its low permeability and the presence of lowdensity hydrates that decompose at temperatures close to100ºC. These hydrates increase the amount of water to bereleased within the ebullition range, and low permeability trapsthe vapor inside the refractory, generating pressurization andexposing the castable to higher pressures and higher real heat-ing rates.
Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to theBrazilian research funding institutions CAPES and FAPESPand to ALCOA S.A. and MAGNESITA S.A. for supporting thiswork.
REFERENCES1. W. Gitzen and L. D. Hart, “Explosive Spalling of
Refractory Castables Bonded with Calcium Aluminate
Figure 1a presents the mass loss (W) and the mass loss rate(dW/dt), while Figure 1b shows the heating rate (dTs/dt) forcastable samples cured for two days at 10ºC and 50ºC. Thesamples for these experiments were heated at 10ºC/min(dashed line in Figure 1).
The actual mass loss rate is given by the balance between fac-tors, which favors dewatering (evaporation, ebullition, anddehydration) and the receding of the drying front into the bulkof the castable. The amount of water lost (W) in each dryingstage (I, II or III) is illustrated in Figure 1a. Table 2 lists theresults for each stage and curing condition.
Although the total amount of water used to prepare the casta-bles was 4.50 wt%, castable-50 showed a lower Wd value (4.36wt%) than castable-10 (4.49 wt%) because, even when curingis carried out in a moistened environment, higher temperaturesfavor the natural loss of water due to the reduction in water vis-cosity and the higher kinetic energy of its molecules.
In stage I (Figure 1a), the temperatures were lower than100ºC and evaporation was the main dewatering process. Thelower water loss during the curing stage and the slower hydra-tion kinetics favored a larger amount of free water in castable-10 than in castable-50. Thus, despite the lower permeability ofcastable-10, this composition lost a larger amount of water instage I (W1=38%) than did castable-50 (W1=32%).
Also during stage I (Figure 1b), the heating rate of castablescured at 10ºC and 50ºC was similar because external factors,such as humidity and furnace heating rate, exerted a greaterimpact on evaporation than did permeability. In this stage, afraction of the heat received by the sample was used to evapo-rate the water, slowing down the sample’s heating rate whencompared to the rate in the furnace (10ºC/min). Because therewas no pressurization of the structure in the first stage, eventhe weaker castable (cured at 10ºC for two days) would nothave been damaged had the drying taken place at temperaturesbelow 100ºC.
Water ebullition starts around 100ºC, at which point theeffects of the permeability levels become more relevant,because a larger amount of vapor can be entrapped within lowpermeability structures, raising the pressure inside the castable.
The permeability differences between castable-10 andcastable-50 were evident above 100ºC (stage II) from the dis-crepancies between their surface heating rates (Figure 1b).During ebullition, the vapor from the castable bulk reached thesurface, preventing it from following the furnace heating rate.Because of its superior permeability, the vapor was releasedmore rapidly from castable-50, resulting in a temporarily slow-er surface heating rate than that of castable-10.
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 17
Cement,” Am. Ceram, Soc. Bull., 40[8] 503-507, 510(1961).
2. R. E. Moore, J. D. Smith, W. L. Headrick Jr. and T. P.Sander, “Monolithic Dewatering Theory Testing andPractice: New Challenges,”pp. 1-20 and 1-6, in TheThirty-second Annual Symposium on Refractories, TheSt. Louis Section of The American Ceramic Society(1996).
3. F. A. Cardoso, M. D. M. Innocentini, M. M. Akiyoshiand V. C. Pandolfelli, “Effect of Curing time on the Prop-erties of CAC Bonded Refractory Castables,” J. Eur.Ceram. Soc., 24[7] 2073-2078 (2004).
4. G. MacZura, L. D. Hart, R. O, Heilich and J. E.Kopanda, “Refractory Cement,” Ceram. Eng. Sci. Proc.,4[1-2] 46-67(1983).
5. K. M. Parker and J. H. Sharp, “Refractory CalciumAluminate Cements,” Trans. J. British Ceram. Soc. 81[2]35-42 (1982).
6. A. Nishikawa, “Technology of Monolithic Refractories,”Plibrico Japan CO., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, 83-170, (1984).
Look forRReeffrraaccttoorriieess AApppplliiccaattiioonnss
aanndd NNeewwsson the web: www.ranews.info
7. F. A. Cardoso, M. D. M. Innocentini, M. M. Akiyoshi andV. C. Pandolfelli, “Effect of Curing Conditions on theProperties of Ultra-low Cement Refractory Castables,”Refractories Applications and News 9[2] 12-16 (2004).
8. M.R. Nilforoushan and J.H. Sharp, “The Effect of Timeon the Hydration Reactions of a Refractory CalciumAluminate Cement Investigated by SEM,” pp.1586-1597in Proceedings of the Unified International TechnicalConference on Refractories – UNITECR’2001 ALA-FAR, Cancun, 2001.
9. Standard Test Method for Splitting Tensile Strength ofCylindrical Concrete Specimens, American Society forStandardization, C 496-90, v. 04.02.
10. M. D. M. Innocentini and V. C. Pandolfelli, “TheEvaluation of Permeability in Refractory Castables usingDarcy and Forchheimer Equations,” Cerâmica, 45[61-7](1999) (in Portuguese).
11. M. D. M. Innocentini, F. A. Cardoso, M. M. Akiyoshi andV. C. Pandolfelli, “Drying Stages During Heating ofHigh Alumina, Ultra-low Cement Refractory Castables,”Am. Ceram. Soc. Bull. 86[7] 1146-1148 (2003). RR AANN
18 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
In 1965, as the Gateway Arch was being completed overhead,the St. Louis Section of the American Ceramic Society held itsfirst Annual Symposium at the Engineers Club in downtown St.Louis. The goal of the one-day event was to gather togetherexperts in refractory technology to make presentations and dis-cuss critical issues related to production and performance ofrefractories. Having the meeting in St. Louis was especially fit-ting as Missouri, with its high quality refractory clay deposits,was the location of a large number of refractory plants.
The technical portion of the Symposium featured fundamentalissues in the morning session and applications based issues in theafternoon. Professors representing the three universities affiliat-ed with the section, the University of Missouri-Rolla, theUniversity of Illinois and Iowa State University, made morningpresentations while Industry leaders representing steel and glass
40 YEARS OF THE ST. LOUIS SYMPOSIUMJeffrey D. Smith, Associate Professor, Department of Ceramic Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla,[email protected]
Figure 1. The 1965 Symposium Committee included (l-r) TomSmith, Kaiser Refractories, George MacZura, Alcoa ResearchLab, Jim Blome, McDonnell Aircraft, Bill Fabianic, H.K.Porter, Mel Churovich, H.K. Porter and John Miller, A.P.Green Fire Brick.
Figure 2. 1965 Panel Members included Professor DaveWilder, Iowa State University, Professors Ted Planje and BobMoore, University of Missouri-Rolla and Bill Fabianic, H.K.Porter.
offered afternoon presentations. A list of the original presenta-tions and authors is included as Table 1.
The Symposium Committee was comprised of leaders from therefractory industry located in and around the St. Louis area. Aphoto of the original Symposium Committee is included asFigure 1. These individuals were instrumental in organizing thefirst of many successful symposia. Special mention should bemade of George MacZura, the 1965 immediate past chair of thesection and Tom Smith, the 1965 chair, whose efforts made thesymposium a possibility. Bill Fabianic, then Director ofResearch at H.K. Porter, functioned as the program chair for themeeting.
The first symposium was more than just technical presenta-tions as it included a lively panel discussion as well. A photo ofsome of the initial panel members is included as Figure 2. Timewas also devoted to social activities, a trend that has now con-tinued for forty years. At noon the group walked six blocks to
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 19
the Salad Bowl restaurant for a convivial gathering that includ-ed a luncheon address from Bill Lowe of A.P. Green Firebrick,another tradition that continues today. At the end of the day,attendees enjoyed more social activities (the free bar was promi-nently indicated on the initial symposium brochure) at theEngineers Club. Many of the attendees continued with dinner on“The Hill” and capped off the evening frequenting some of St.Louis’ downtown attractions.
A number of modifications were made to the symposium dur-ing subsequent years. In 1967, the section opted to provide pro-ceedings for the event. The officers and volunteers in the sectionmet prior to the symposium to mimeograph the manuscripts andbind the proceedings so they could be presented to attendees atregistration. Although this practice is fairly common at a num-ber of current meetings, it was a considerable undertaking in1967, another indication of the sections commitment to offeringthe best possible product.
In 1968 the section unveiled the St. Louis Refractories Award,which was to be presented “for Distinguished Achievement inthe Field of Refractories.” A photo of the first recipient, JohnMcMullen of Carborundum Company, is included as Figure 3.The objective of the award was to recognize outstanding contri-butions to the engineering and science of refractory ceramics.This fairly broad objective was intended to allow considerationof all individuals including raw material suppliers, refractoryproducers, refractory users/consumers, consultants, academics,etc.
The next year marked the beginning of theme-based program-ming for the symposium. The organizers believed that a meet-ing focused on a fairly narrow topic would bring continuity tothe Symposium. In 1969 the theme was “Corrosion ofRefractories” with George MacZura as the program chair. Afocused theme allowed the symposium organizers to seek outimminently qualified program chairs to ensure the quality of thetechnical content remained high. This approach has again with-stood the test of time as the program is organized in the samemanner today.
Over the years, the technical content of the symposium hasbeen considerable and the significance of many of these manu-
scripts should not be underestimated. A number of technicalpapers have provided a much clearer picture of complicatedconcepts related to refractories while many of the more practi-cal papers have found widespread industrial application. A fewexcerpts from nearly 40 years of proceedings are included in thismanuscript.
In 1971, Allen discussed heat transfer in refractories and therole of porosity. One of his hand drawn figures is reprinted hereas Figure 4. In 1974, Limes discussed the effects of phosphateson the deformation of basic refractories, showing that phos-phates did not have a detrimental effect on high temperatureproperties. Some of his load to failure curves are included asFigure 5. In 1982, Funk, Dinger and Funk introduced their“Alfred Distribution” a modification of the Andraesen distribu-tion that was commonly used for particle sizing refractory for-mulations. Their mathematical adjustment eliminated the infi-nitely small particle requirement that existed in Andraesen’sapproach, making the purely theoretical distribution a practicalreality.Figure 3. In 1968, the St. Louis Refractories Award was pre-
sented to John McMullen of the Carborundum Company, byLee Hart of Alcoa Research.
Figure 4. A.W. Allen, “Heat Transfer Mechanisms inRefractory Materials,” April 2, 1971.
Figure 5. R.W. Limes, “Phosphate Bonding of BasicRefractories,” April 5, 1974.
20 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
See refractories related meetingson page 3.
A full reprint of the Funk, Dinger and Funk manuscript isincluded on pages 21-26 of this issue of RAN. Other reprints ofimportant contributions from the St. Louis Section RefractoriesSymposium will be included in future issues of RAN.
The section introduced its own “modification” that same yearwhen the officers changed the name of their award to “TheTheodore J. Planje-St. Louis Refractories Award” in honor ofTed Planje who had passed away the previous year. Dr. Planjehad been a long time member of the Ceramic Engineering facul-ty, serving as Department Chair and Dean of the School of Minesand Metallurgy at UMR, and had been a champion of the sym-posium since its inception (see 1965 panel members Figure 2).
Through the years a total of 37 members of the refractory com-munity have been awarded what has come to be known simply asthe Planje award; a complete list is included in Tables 2 and 3.
In 2002, the St. Louis Section began co-hosting its symposiumwith the Refractory Ceramics Division of the American CeramicSociety, formally moving to a two day symposium; althoughinfrequent two day meetings had been held before for special sit-uations and had normally been quite successful. ASTM and TheRefractory Institute also participated in the 2002 meeting, effec-tively creating “Refractories Week” in St. Louis.
Another change was initiated in 2003, when the section award-ed the first St. Louis scholarship to William Maass, a junior inCeramic Engineering at the University of Missouri-Rolla. Thepurpose of the scholarship is to promote awareness of ceramicengineering, highlighting high temperature materials applica-tions.
The 2004 symposium marked the first meeting withoutProfessor Robert E. Moore. His untimely death in the summer of2003 had a considerable impact on the section and the sympo-sium and the 2004 proceeding was dedicated in his memory.Through presentations and participation in panel discussion,chairing programs and sessions, preparing proceedings, etc. Dr.Moore played a critical role in the success of the section sympo-sium for nearly 40 years.
Today a new group of officers (Table 4) are carrying on thelong standing traditions of the section and their role is perhapsmore critical than ever before. With consolidations and plantclosings ravaging the refractories community in the UnitedStates, the symposium remains a constant reminder that theindustry will persevere through consistent product improvementand technological advances.
For 40 years the symposium has been, and in the future willcontinue to be, successful thanks to the hard work and dedicationof the St. Louis Section volunteers. Assistance from volunteerswith the Refractory Ceramics Division, The RefractoriesInstitute and ASTM will help to make the symposium evenstronger in the future. After 40 years it is safe to say that theexperiment that is the St. Louis Section Refractories Symposiumhas been a tremendous success. RR AANN
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 21
according to Stokes Law. In crowded slurry the specific gravity andviscosity of the slurry itself rather than the interparticle water willreduce the rate of settling, but it will never pre-vent settling. Toprevent settling, a yield stress, τG, Is necessary which is sufficientto overcome the difference between gravitational settling stressminus the buoyant stress. This is easily calculated for spheres fromgeometric considerations as:
τG = Gravitational Force Down - Buoyant Force Up (1)Equatorial Area Equatorial Area
τG is related to τy by viscometer geometry rather than by a physi-cal mechanism. In Figure 2 are also shown the three fluid respons-es which exhibit a yield stress, τy. Also shown are the equationswhich describe each fluid. Varying the value of the exponent, n,from <1 to 1 to> 1, τy from zero to any finite value, and the sig-nificance of K from a true slope of ηN for Newtonian viscosity orηB for a Bingham plastic viscosity which are linear with shear rateto K which is non-linear with respect to shear rate, a single powerlaw equation for all fluid systems is possible:
ABSTRACTA model for maximizing particle packing efficiency while retain-
ing the necessary colloid fraction for good rheological propertieshas been developed and tested on fluid slurries at up to 75 volume% solids. This paper will discuss the rheology of ceramic forming,maximizing particle packing efficiency, the electrochemistry nec-essary to attain specific rheological responses, and the measure-ment techniques for each.
INTRODUCTIONRefractory shapes are conventionally produced from a variety of
powder-water mixes of different ratios. Fine grained A1203 may beslip cast at 50 volume % solids; plastic fireclay may be formed at60 volume % solids; and some ramming or dry press mixes maycontain only a few percent water. Such high solids content mixesrequire special forming properties appropriate to each specificforming process. Where the process may be classed as wet, the rhe-ological properties must be understood, quantified, and controlled.For dry pressing and the nearly dry ramming mixes the low mois-ture content depends upon the effectiveness of packing the pow-ders, but so do the rheological properties of the two wet processes.This paper will deal particularly with these wet processes, butmany of the points made are also applicable to the dry processes.The presentation is based upon the theoretical packing of spheresusing a new packing algorithm. It has been successfully applied tocoal-water slurries and to some whiteware compositions, and isoffered to test on additional particle-fluid systems.
RHEOLOGYThere exist two time dependent and six time independent rheo-
logical systems. Figure 1 shows the typical curves for thixotropyand rheopexy where viscosity decreases and increases respectivelywith time at a constant shear rate. That is, while mixing at a con-stant agitator speed the viscosity will change with time to somenew terminal viscosity. Thixotropy is of considerable importancein ceramic systems because upon cessation of agitation the viscos-ity will again increase due to some mechanism of gellation in thebody.
Figure 2 shows the six rheograms for fluids which depend uponthe rate of shear rather than time. These are plotted in the standardformat of shear stress vs shear rate. Notice that the pseudoplastic,Newtonian, and dilatent fluids all intersect the origin; they exhibitno yield stress which must be overcome before flow can occur.These simple fluids are useless for any ceramic forming systembecause with no yield stress the powders will settle from the slip
PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CONTROLFOR REFRACTORIES FORMING RHEOLOGYJ. E. Funk, D. R. Dinger, J. E. Funk, Jr., Alfred University, Alfred, NY, [email protected],www.dingerceramics.comPresented at “Changes in Refractory Technology Symposium,” Engineers Club of St. Louis, 4359 LindellBlvd., St. Louis, MO, March 12, 1982Reprinted with permission from The American Ceramic Society and the St. Louis Section
Historical Reprint
Figure 1. Time dependent behavior of rheopectic andthixotropic fluids.*
22 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
Figure 2. Shear stress vs shear rate rheograms for six time independent fluids.*
Figure 3. Apparent viscosity vs shear rate rheograms for six time independent fluids.*
Perhaps a better way to view these fluids is shown in Figure 3which plots the apparent viscosity ηa vs shear rate .γ where ηa = τ/.γas measured by any conventional viscometer capable of varyingspeed. The τ vs .γ plot, Figure 2, is linear-linear whereas the ηa vs.γ plot is ln-ln which must be recognized in comparing the curves.At "zero shear rate", the Bingham fluid has an "infinite viscosity"but at higher shear rates the viscosity approaches a Newtonian, orterminal viscosity. Similarly, the "infinite viscosity" effect of eachfluid with a yield stress, τy, approaches its counterpart at high shearrates. It should be apparent that either dilatent system would be dis-
astrous as a fluid pumped at high velocities, but for relatively lowvelocity movement it could be a useful property in forming. Ofvital concern is the reversibility of these curves so that upon settingafter movement, the yield strength returns. The yield-pseudoplasticrheology as plotted indicates that the viscosity will continue todecrease according to the power law. of course, in real systemsthere will always be a terminal viscosity in laminar flow, so theyield-pseudoplastic flow curve is really a special case of aBingham fluid. A thixotropic-Bingham plastic body is probably themost useful and the most common in ceramic forming of crowdedsystems, although a thixotropic-yield dilatent body may find someuseful application provided it is not pumped at high shear rates.
Figure 4 shows a hypothetical rheogram comparing two Binghamfluids with the same terminal viscosity ηB. Curve A shows a muchhigher yield stress than B and would therefore be more mechani-cally stable in place after releasing any forming pressures.However, both would flow equally at terminal viscosity.
From work done on coal-water slurries [1, 2] as well as in sani-taryware casting Slips [1,2] and electrical porcelain filter pressSlips [4, 5, 6, 7] it has frequently been observed that a fairly wide
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 23
range of rheological responses result from any given powder-waterslip merely by changing the chemistry and that all powder-waterslips do not behave the same way. From full deflocculation to fullflocculation some slips will vary from Bingham to Newtonian todilatent at the same solids content merely by changing the chem-istry of the fluid. As a result of these observations it is believed thatdifferent rheograms are due to the following two major parameters.
a) Particle size distribution - designed to minimize the inter-stitial pore volume and to provide an adequate colloidalfraction or surface area to react with the slip chemistry.
b) Electrokinetic potential - surfactants or polyelectrolytes areadded to enhance or negate the repulsive electrokineticpotential of the colloid fraction to maximize the interparti-cle distance allowed by the dilution water and control thegel structure contiguous with the colloid fraction.
Figure 5 shows, in a conceptual illustration, that the variousbehaviors in Figure 3 can result from different parts of the size dis-tribution and which also may or may not be modified by chemistry.To the right of the vertical line drawn arbitrarily through the lowviscosity point of the yield-dilatent fluid, the slope of the curves isanalogous to the exponent in the general power law equation. Theslope will depend upon the frequency of collision of coarse parti-cles. A very narrow size distribution or one which contains a largepercentage of large particles will tend to be dilatent. Reducing thesize or the fraction of coarse particles will tend to reduce the expo-nent n toward the yield-pseudoplastic rheogram. The yield stress,τy, or the height of the curve to the left of the vertical line is deter-mined by the colloidal fraction in combination with the chemistryused. The vertical displacement is determined by the packing effi-ciency of the entire particle size distribution. The more efficientthe packing the greater the fraction of water will be available toseparate particles thereby reducing collision frequency.
PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTIONHigh solids loading can only be achieved by maximizing the
packing efficiency of the powders in order to minimize the inter-stitial pore space. This pore space must first be filled with waterbefore additional water can separate the particles thereby impart-
ing fluidity. The farther apart the particles, the more dilute the sys-tem, and the lower the viscosity will be.
Two main theories of particle packing have been proposed anddeveloped over the years. High solids loading can be accomplishedby following either of these two theories.1. Theories based on mixtures of monodispersions of particles
with the size classes separated by diameter ratios in excess of200:1 were proposed by Furnas [8,10] and Westman andHugill [9], to name a few. These algorithms were based onthe idea that each distinct class of particles is capable ofpacking to 60% of theoretical density and that if the sizeratios are great enough, each distinct class will fill 60% ofthe porosity remaining after the addition of all the larger par-ticle size classes. In this way, the first class packs to 60%, thesecond packs to 84%, the third to 93.6% and so on. The prob-lems for these theories have arisen when attempts were madeto extend them to handle discrete distributions with diameterratios << 200:1 or to handle continuous distributions.However, most work in concrete mixes, refractory ceramicmixes, pigments, and in many other areas have used the basicprinciples of these theories with varying degrees of success.
2. A theory based on optimum packing of continuous distribu-tions was presented by Andreasen [12]. According to thistheory, optimum packing occurs when the distribution mod-ulus, n, in the following equation is between 0.33 and 0.5.
Andreasen CPFT = ( D )n (3)100 DL
This theory, however, requires infinitely small particles, that is,those approaching 0.0 µm. The Alfred researchers have revisedthis equation by introducing a finite smallest particle size Ds andhave determined that optimum packing occurs when n in the fol-lowing equation is 0.37.
Figure 4. Two Bingham fluids with the different yield stress, ττy,but the same terminal viscosity, ηηαα.*
Figure 5. Contribution of various parts of the particle size dis-tribution to rheological responses in slurries.*
24 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
Alfred CPFT = Dn - Ds
n(4)
100 DLn - Ds
n
where CPFT = cumulative percent finer than
D = any particle diameter in the distribution
DL = largest particle diameter in the distribution
Ds = smallest particle diameter in the distribution
n = exponent is the slope at DLThis equation describes a size distribution which when n = 0.37
produces the maximum packing efficiency for any width distribu-tion [11]. The broader the size distribution, the higher the packingefficiency will be. For illustration, Figure 6 shows two size distri-butions where Ds and n are constant and DL changes. According toFigures 7 [13], the calculated porosity of the size distribution withDL = 4 mesh is about 1.5% whereas for DL = 40 mesh the porosityis about 3.5%. From the standpoint of packing efficiency the
broader size distribution with DL = 4 mesh is a better packing bodywhich may be ideal for dry pressing or ramming mixes. However,referring back to Figure 6, it is very apparent that the amount ofcolloidal material, < 1 µm, is far too low for attaining required rhe-ological properties for wet processing. Assuming spheres in thesebodies, the specific surface area calculated by integration over thesize distribution are 2.92 M2/cc and 1.57 M2/cc. Non-spherical par-ticles will not pack to this high efficiency, but the effects will stillbe relative. If a high yield stress is necessary, then at least the samespecific surface area is necessary on the broader size distribution.To achieve this, the porosity must be compromised. Figure 8 showssuch a compromise giving "best" curves for the same surface area.
Perhaps the rheological importance of the fines can be shown byusing a simple model as in Figure 9. Monospheres will usuallypack in an average orthorhombic array at about 60 volume percentregardless of size [14] . As shown in Figure 9a, in order to shear,the structure must "open" (dilate) to a cubic array where the poros-ity increases from 40 to about 48%. To prevent dilatency, or inter-particle collisions in shear, the system must be diluted as in Figure9b such that the interparticle spacing, IPS, is at least
IPS = (2 - √_3) D (5)
Since small water dilutions are desired, D must necessarily reflectvery small particles. Obviously, in a broad size distribution no arrayof particles such as in Figure 9 can exist because there are relative-ly few particles of any one size but the principle of the small inter-particle spacing requirements is illustrated. Further, only those par-ticles which have a high surface to mass ratio (< 1 µm) are capableof reacting to the electrochemistry to effect the required interparti-cle separation. If a distribution such as in Figure 6b was produced,when sufficient water was added to allow flow to occur undershear, upon removal of the shearing force the powder would settlein a dense pack on the bottom of the vessel and be very difficult toresuspend regardless of its chemistry. However, the compromisedistribution of Figure 8b should contain sufficient colloidal fractionto react to the chemistry and develop a stable fluid with a yieldstress to allow plastic forming.
Figure 6. Packing efficiencies as a function of change in distri-bution width with calculated surface areas.
Figure 8. Packing efficiencies of two size distributions selectedto produce the same surface area.
Figure 7. Porosities of various Alfred size distributions as afunction of distribution modulus and width.
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 25
IMPLICATIONS FOR REFRACTORIESIn view of the fact that refractory bodies used for in place form-
ing usually contain a top particle size of about 4 mesh for high tem-perature load resistance it is probable that such a body would bethixotropic-yield-dilatent as shown in Figures 3 and 5 top line. Forso called thixotropic casting or placing, the frequency of vibrationis associated with shear rate .γ and the amplitude would be asso-ciated with the shear stress τ. Therefore, a particular frequency andamplitude would be optimum for a particular body. Large varia-tions in the size distribution and/or chemistry would change themechanical requirements for best flow behavior. For example,if good flow is attained at given vibrator conditions for "stan-dard body A" in Figure 10 and a change in the grind producesa change in the rheogram to yield curve B, then the same vibra-tor settings may be inadequate for good forming. Knowledge ofthe flow curve would permit design of the optimum vibrationparameters and also serve as a production quality controldevice to guarantee product performance.
ELECTROCHEMISTRYThe effectiveness of the deflocculant or flocculant depends
upon the amount of colloidal matter present and the fundamen-tal surface chemistry of those particles. A constant addition ofsurfactant will not have the same effect if there is a change incolloidal content. Unfortunately there is no simple way tomeasure exactly the size distribution of particles below 1 µm.However, surface area measurements which integrate the areaof the distribution are a helpful means of assessing this effect.Devices such as BET adsorption of N2, H20 vapor, or C02 andthe simpler methylene blue index (MBI) determinations arecommonly used. In this modelling work, surface area wasdetermined by computer integration of the equivalent sphereareas in the distribution.
Since most oxides and carbides are fundamentally elec-tronegative, the work of the chemicals added is either to max-imize the electro negativity (deflocculation) or to minimize it(flocculation). Riddick [15] gives the following table to quan-tify the ξ-potential which produces deflocculation or floccula-tion as follows:
Zeta-potential is measured by several devices, such as anelectrophoretic mobility analyzer, as the electrokinetic poten-tial at the plane of shear between the adsorbed, or hydrated,water hull around the particle, which travels with the particle,and the surrounding free liquid. Figure 11 gives the classicalpicture of the decay curve of the repulsive fundamental surfacepotential Ψo as a function of distance from the particle surface.The net response resulting from a summation of the attractiveand repulsive forces, showing both the energy barrier to floc-culation and the secondary minimum for effective stabilizationis indicated by the dotted line. For oxide surfaces, adding mul-tivalent counterions such as Mg+2, Ca+3, or Al+3 will compressthe double layer and reduce the ξ-potential effecting floccula-tion due to the attractive Van der Waal's forces overcoming therepulsive surface electrical forces as explained by Adams [16]utilizing the DLVO theory.
Figure 9. Illustration of the a) dilatent reaction of tightlypacked spheres to shear and, b) the non-dilatent shear behav-ior when the spheres are separated.
Figure 10. Two yield-dilatent bodies may require differentvibratory conditions for maximum fluidity for optimum place-ment.
26 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
Any polyelectrolyte or surfactant which is water soluble andis capable of screening the adsorption of the neutralizing coun-terions will function as deflocculants. Anionic organic poly-mers will also serve this purpose and if they are of medium tohigh molecular weight will also serve as bridging polymers toform a steric gel structure and increase the yield strength, τy. Acombination of anionic surfactant to deflocculate plus a non-ionic polymer to build the gel structure for controlled rheologyis likely to be needed. Selection of these surfactants is left as anexercise for the specific application. Examples which may beeffective are those commonly used in ceramics systems such asthe alkali polyacrilates, naphthalene sulfonic acids, lignosul-fonates as well as silicates, hexametaphosphates, and carbon-ates, etc.
REFERENCES1. J.E. Funk Jr., “Effect of Particle Size Distribution on the
Rheological Properties of Coal Slurries,” M.S. Thesis inCeramic Engineering, NY State College of Ceramics,Alfred University, Alfred, NY 1981.
2. J.E. Funk, “Coal-Water Slurry and Method For ItsPreparation,” U.S. Patent 4,282,006 August 1981.
3. J. Gilson, J.E. Funk, “A Cone 2 Sanitaryware Body,”Proceedings of Conference on Technical Innovations inWhite-wares, Alfred University, Alfred, NY 1981.
4. J.M. Brugan, “Rheology of Flocculated WhitewareComponents and Their Triaxial Mixtures,” M.S. Thesisin Ceramic Engineering, Alfred University, Alfred, NY1976.
5. C.A. Soto-Cely, “Flocculating Power of SelectedCations,” M.S. Thesis in Ceramic Engineering, AlfredUniversity, Alfred, NY 1978.
6. I.O. Knickerbocker, “Rheological Properties ofFlocculated Clay-Water Systems,” M.S. Thesis inCeramic Engineering, Alfred University, Alfred NY1976.
7. I.O. Knickerbocker, J.E. Funk, W. Curtis, D. Miller, G.Steere, “Improvement of Electrical PorcelainInsulators,” EPRI Research Project 424-1, Palo Alto,CA 1978.
8. C.C. Furnas, “Relations Between Specific Volume,Voids, and Size Composition in Systems of BrokenSolids of Mixed Sizes,” U. S. Bureau of Mines Reportof Investigations No. 2894, 1928.
9. A.E.R. Westman, H.R. Hugill, “The Packing ofParticles,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 767-769 (1930).
10. C.C. Furnas, “Grading Aggregates - I - MathematicalRelations For Beds of Broken Solids of MaximumDensity,” Ind. and Engng. Chem., 23:9:1052-1058,1931.
11. D.R. Dinger, J.E. Funk Jr., J.E. Funk, “ParticlePacking: I-Review of Packing Theories,” Proceedingsof Fine Particle Society 13th Annual Meeting, April,1982.
12. A.H.M. Andreasen, J. Anderson, “'Über die Beziehungzwischen Kornabstufung und Zwiwhenraum inProdukten aus losen Körnern,” Kolloid Z., 50:217-218, 1930.
13. J.E. Funk, D.R. Dinger, J.E. Funk Jr., “Coal Grindingand Particle Size Distribution Studies for Coal-WaterSlurries at High Solids Content,” Final Report EmpireState Electric Energy Research Corporation, NewYork, NY. 1980.
14. T.G.O. Berg, R.L. McDonald, R.J. Trainor, Jr., “ThePacking of Spheres, Powder Technology” 3:183-188,1969/70.
15. T.M. Riddick, “Control of Colloid Stability ThroughZeta Potential,” Zeta-Meter Inc., New York 1968.
16. E.F. Adams, “Slip Cast Ceramics, High TemperatureOxides,” Vol. 5, A. Alper, ed. Academic Press, NY1970.
17. E.J.W. Verwey, J.Th. G. Overbeek, “Theory of theStability of Lyophobic Colloids,” Elsevier Pub. Co.NY, 1948.
18. B. Derjaguin, L. Landau, “Theory of the Stability ofStrongly Charged Lyophobic Sols and of the Adhesionof Strongly Charged Particles in Solutions ofElectrolyte,” Acta Physicochim, 14 633-662, 1941.RR AANN
Figure 11. Schematic representation of the repulsive andattractive forces involved in colloid stabilization.
*Handwritten symbols in figures were replaced to ensure clarity.
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 27
Figure 2. Student Poster Competition.
The 106th Annual Meeting & Exposition of The AmericanCeramic Society was held in Indianapolis, April 18-21,2004 at the Indiana Convention Center & RCA Dome. Over1400 participants from North America, Asia, Europe andother places over the world attended the meeting. Themeeting is by far the largest North American gathering ofinternational professionals in the fields of ceramics, glass,cement and composites. A large range of technical programswere presented. More than 1000 topics were given in threedays. Key focus areas included fuel cells, wireless commu-nications technology, nanomaterials, gas turbines, super-conductors, electronic components, thermal and environ-mental coatings, nuclear waste containment, photonicdevices, cement, concrete, composites, and bioceramics.
Parallel to the technical programs, the new industry trackprogram was presented this year. The industry track pro-gram emphasized the industrial and commercial side ofceramics through sessions on improving manufacturingprocesses, commercializing new technologies and materi-als, meeting regulatory requirements, industry technologyroad-mapping and other topics of commercial interest.Topics covered by the industry track program included RawMaterial Processing, Forming Processes, Decorating andDesign of Ceramics, Environmental Issues, AdvancedCeramic Technology Forecasting, Glass Manufacturing.
Various technical reference books were available for salealong with the meeting abstracts and proceedings. The newACerS-NIST Phase Equilibria Diagrams CD-ROM Databaseversion 3.0 with over 19,000 diagrams was displayed andavailable for sale.
Figure 3. Inside the Indiana Conference Center.
The 106th Annual Meeting & Exposition of theAmerican Ceramic SocietyHelio Guimaraes Neto, Xiaoting Liang and Alireza Rezaie University of Missouri-Rolla, [email protected]
The event provided an excellent opportunity to learn thelatest on processing equipment, testing instruments, fur-naces and kilns, and most importantly what the future holdsfor the ceramic and glass industry.
The 107th Annual Meeting & Exposition will be held fromApril 10-13, 2005 in Baltimore, MD. New characterizationtechniques, nanomaterials and nanotechnology, fuel cells,low-temperature co-firing of ceramics, ceramic armor,aging effects of materials, wireless technology and coatingswill be included in the symposia. RR AANN
Figure 1. Indiana Convention Center & RCA Dome.
28 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
TEHRAN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ONREFRACTORIESFarhad Golestani-Fard, Professor in Ceramics and Refractories and Amir Reza Hanifi, RefractoryResearcher, Refractory Research Group, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, IranUniversity of Science and Technology, Narmak, Tehran, Iran, [email protected] L. Headrick, Assistant Research Professor, Department of Ceramic Engineering, University ofMissouri-Rolla
Tehran International Conferenceon Refractories was held on 4-6May 2004 in Ejlas convection cen-ter in Tehran. This was the firstinternational event on refractoriesthat took place in the Middle East.Seventy four scientific and techni-cal papers received as invited arti-cles prepared by renowned scien-tists from different organizations,were presented in three halls dur-ing the three days of the confer-ence. The statistic of papers distri-bution is shown in Figure 1.
Sixty papers were submitted by overseas experts and fourteenby Iranian specialists. More than 900 people participated inthis conference out of which 150 were from overseas. Thesewere mainly from Refractories companies, Steel, Cement,Copper, Petrochemical and Aluminum Industries.
Representatives from 27 countries participated in this confer-ence were mainly from Germany, UK, Austria, Netherlands,India, France, Czech, Russia, Spain, China, Italy, Japan,Turkey, Brazil, France, Canada, and USA.
An exhibition was set up along side the conference in a 460square meter area where 62 Iranian and foreign companiesexhibited their products and presented their expertise in 50booths. This provided a unique opportunity for everyone totake advantage of such a strong presence by the most wellknown internal and external companies and to enter mutualcommunication regarding scientific and marketing discussions.
In addition to conference presentations program, two shortcourses were organized. One was presented by Dr. Jansen fromRefractechnik in Isfahan on Thursday 29th April and the otherby Prof. Lee from University of Sheffield, UK on Thursday 6thof May.
Two excursion tours in Tehran to visit the palace and to a car-pet museum were arranged for the interested guests. Also visitsto historical places in Isfahan was carried out during a two daysvisit on May 7-8. The tours also included the sightseeing excur-sion and a visit to Azar refractory research center.
For a list of the organizers, main sponsors and organizingcommittee whose support and effort resulted in this event seeTable 1 below.
COMMENTSThe follow are comments of refractory professionals who
took part in this important event:
Figure 1. The statistic of papers distribution in TICR 2004.
Amir Reza Hanifi,Refractory Researcher
tion, Kazem Ahari (originally from Iran and very muchinvolved in the conference) was a post doc working with me onrefractory castables. On arrival in Tehran we were met by TVcameras, which was fun and whisked off like VIP's in waitingcars. The conference venue was fantastic, the whole thingremarkably well organized with 900 attendees and an excellentexhibition. Sheffield was well represented with talks bymyself, Shaowei Zhang and Kazem Ahari. In addition I gave aone day short course on refractories microstructures, propertiesand processing, which attracted 250 attendees and wasexhausting. I have never been asked so many questions by suchan appreciative audience. We were treated with the utmost hos-pitality and after the conference some of us went to Isfahan tovisit the Azar refractories well appointed research labs. Whilethere we stayed in the best hotel in Iran; the Abbasi Hotelwhich was once a caravanserai. It was great to meet up with myexstudents and see how they are doing. The whole experiencewas good. William E. Lee, Professor, Department ofEngineering Materials, United Kingdom, E-mail:[email protected]
TICR is a well-organized andvery worthy international event inthe world refractory community,especially meaningful to the devel-opment of refractory industry andrefractory consuming industries inIran and Middle East. The successwas soundly presented by thought-ful organization, strong internaland external supports and exten-sive participation. Many effortsspeak volumes for the wide praisein venue, facility, proceedingsquality, program, cultural activity,
service, etc. We are also impressed with those involved warm-hearted, eager to learn and dynamic university students. Theyare the promise of future’s prosperity. Zhou Ningsheng,Professor, Henan University of Science and Technology,China, E-mail: [email protected]
The First Tehran InternationalConference in Refractories” hasbeen a success... with some 900attendees, 142 of whom were from27 different countries. The confer-ence was well organized, thanks tothe efforts of Dr. Golestani-Fard,his research group and his col-leagues from the IranianRefractory Community. The hospi-tality was great.... the exchanges,diversified and to the points. It wasgreat to learn about the ambitionsplans the Iranian community hasfor the future, for their metallurgi-
cal industries as well as for their refractory industry. Therestructuring and unifying efforts of the private sector, aroundPars Refractories Co., are to be followed... The research efforts
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 29
An excellent conference beyondmy expectations. I enjoyed manyrich exchanges about the statusand development of the Iranianrefractory industry along with theforecasted growth potentials. Iparticularly look forward towatching the predicted progress ofmonolithic refractories materializeover the next years. To find over800 participants was a huge reflec-tion of the effort made by theorganizers and to this end I wish tothank Prof. Golestani-Fard and his
team for the hard work they had obviously put in to make thisconference a success. The papers were well selected andinformative, it was a pity that not all the Iranian written paperscould be orally presented. Chris Parr, Lafarge Aluminates,France, E-mail: [email protected]
The Tehran InternationalConference on Refractories(TICR) was a success of a team ofgreat stature under the leadershipof Professor Golestani-Fard, aworld wide recognized scientistand mentor of many graduate stu-dents passionately involved inresearch in the field of refractoryceramics. Among many thingswhich impressed me during mystay in Tehran it was this meetingat 11 o’clock at night, when thegraduate students from the Iran
University of Science and Technology (IUST) were having ameeting with their professor and Chairman of the Conferencein the Hotel Azadi lobby in preparation for the next day open-ing of the Conference at the Tehran Conference Center. Thatwas not only the hard work of a team running a show; it wasthe dedication to the cause and the pride of their RefractoriesResearch Group at IUST to exceed everybody’s expectations. Ithink they did that and I congratulate all of them for theirefforts. I wish that TICR will become a traditional event for therefractories community in a hopefully more relaxed politicallyMiddle East region". Senior Research Associate, Lecturer,Refractory Materials, The University of British Columbia,Metals and Materials Engineering, Vancouver, BC Canada, E-mail: [email protected]
I was keen to attend the confer-ence in Iran as I have had threeIranian Ph.D. students in Sheffieldworking with me onceramics/refractories who are nowback in Iran: Touradj Ebadzadeh isat the Materials and EnergyResearch Center and HamidRezaie and Hussain Sarpoolakyare at IUST in Tehran. In addi-William E. Lee, Professor
Chris Parr, TechnicalMarketing Manager
Dr. George Oprea, P. Eng.
Michel Rigaud, ProfessorEmeritus
Dr. Zhou Ningsheng,P r o f e s s o r
during water cleaning. A number of attendees, not familiar withlitigation in the US, claimed they had had success with chromecontaining bricks, which would, of course, be environmentallyunacceptable in the West. It seemed to me that this problemcalled for a team effort involving process designers, operatorsand refractories experts – always a hot combination! HowardChandler, Professor, Aberdeen University, UK, E-mail:[email protected]
Firstly, I was most honored andgrateful for Prof. Golestani's invi-tation and the RRG's sponsorshipto speak at TICR04.
Secondly, on the event itself, Iconsidered it a well-organized andmost informative conference andexhibition - especially it being thefirst of its kind in Tehran for theinternational refractories business,and for the RRG to organize. Ofnote was the high standard of inter-
est from leading overseas companies, and the opportunity tomeet in one place pretty much the entire Iranian refractoriesindustry, and also those related to Iran's minerals industry. Welldone! Mike O'Driscoll, Editor, Industrial Minerals, E-mail:[email protected].
Unlike other conferences theTehran one was an extraordinarygathering from at least two rea-sons. One, despite the fact thatIran is not a remote country fromEurope; it has not been a commontourist destination. That is why; itwas worth coming to see for one-self. People, particularly fromOrganizing Committee, were verynice, doing their utmost, wereceived much more hospitalityand attention, than one would haveexpected. Two, venue itself was
also extraordinary in terms of both the main hall and the facil-ities. As for conference program, we had a lot of interestingpapers; particularly courses given by Bill Lee seemed to bevery attractive.
I joined also the Isfahan Tour where we experienced hospi-tality of Azar Refractories Company people. I was amazed notonly by beauties of Isfahan, but also by level of the refractorycompany and its Research Centre in particular. Adam Molin,President of the Czech and Slovak Refractory Producers,Refrasil, Czeck, [email protected].
30 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
by the Iranian University Professors are well focussed and thenumber of students to be about to graduate in ceramics andrefractories is impressive. Michel Rigaud, Professor Emeritus,Director of CIREP, Mathematics and Industrial EngineeringDepartment, École Polytechnique, CRIQ Campus, Montréal(Québec) Canada, E-mail: [email protected]
TICR was an excellent confer-ence, achieving a blend of techni-cal and economic papers, educa-tional courses and exhibition.Ample time was provided duringthe conference for networking inand around the exhibition hall.Tours of palaces, museums andIsfahan were arranged for invitedguests before and after the confer-ence. Of most interest to mewhere the papers presentedregarding the status and develop-
ment of Iranian Industry; the predicted growth and progress isto be tremendous. The organizing committee worked round theclock. I was shocked when an entourage of students and cam-eras picked me up at the airport after midnight. It was notunusual to observe the organizing committee working withinvited authors well into the night.
The country was absolutely beautiful. There were bodies ofwater, mountains with skiing and desert all within an hour’sdrive of the hotel. The buildings, some over 300 years old area showcase of science combined with architecture. During thetour of Isfahan, we visited mosques, churches and some of themost fascinating bridges I have ever or probably will ever see.On the final day of the Isfahan tour we visited the refractoriesresearch center managed by Azar Refractories Co. The refrac-tories research center has state of the art testing, production andmicroscopic capabilities.
Finally, I would like to thank the RRG for sponsoring thisevent, for their sponsorship of me to speak at this event and fortheir gracious hospitality. William L. Headrick, AssistantResearch Professor, University of Missouri-Rolla, E-mail:[email protected].
Overall an excellent mix of fun,long term commercial strategy andup to the minute scientific devel-opments. Well done the organizingcommittee!
In the session I chaired, BillHeadrick’s talk on refractoriescontaining a process making blackliquor, as used in papermaking,simulated the liveliest discussion.The idea was to make the liquorinto a fuel but the current lining
did not last long enough. From his tests, basic refractoriesappeared superior during operation but would clearly suffer
Mike O'Driscoll, Editor
H o w a r d C h a n d l e r,P r o f e s s o r
William L. Headrick,Assistant Research Professor
Adam Molin, CompanyPresident
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 31
I am so happy that my team at IranUniversity of Science & Technology,including young and enthusiastic stu-dents could carry on such a big job,holding the first international confer-ence on refractories in the Middle East.The feedback from local industryshows that the conference and exhibi-tion has been very successful. I amgrateful to our guests from 27 coun-tries, specially the invited speakerswho presented very interesting papers.Also I should thank our main sponsorswhose valuable support enabled us toperform in a standard level. FarhadGolestani-Fard, Professor in Ceramics
and Refractories, Refractory Research Group, Department of Materialsand Metallurgical Engineering, Iran University of Science andTechnology, Narmak, Tehran, Iran, E-mail: [email protected] FROM PRESENTED PAPERS IN THEOPENING CEREMONY (NOT INCLUDED INPROCEEDINGS)
“Opening Speech” by M. Moazenzadeh, Chairman of the Board,Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and RenovationOrganization (IMIDRO)
“As you know, materials have played a vital role in the human life tosuch extent that they have been used as a basis for classification anddesignation of historical ages. Early human who originally lived in theStone Age gradually entered the age of bronze and finally evolved tothe Iron Age or Period. Having passed different historical stages andnow in the third millennium, we have ended up with a new era calledage of new and advanced materials of which refractories form animportant part. These materials, formed from mud which is a mixtureof water and soil, are dried by air (wind) and baked in fire. So, mancould produce these materials from the very early human civilizationthrough combining four conflicting elements.”
This statement summed up the challenges faced by the attendinginvestigators, government officials and industrial participants. M.Moazenzadeh continued with an overview of Iranian refractory com-panies. He stated that Iran has one percent of the global production ofrefractories and ranks first among the Middle East countries. He pre-dicts that due to Iran’s 4th Economic, Social and Cultural developmentPlan the current level of refractory production of 200,000 tons will beincreased to more than 500,000 tons per year in five years.
“The Strategy of Mining & Industrial Development in Iran” by R.Ashraf Semnani, Deputy of Planning & Development and Consultantfor The Minister of Industries & Mines.
R. Ashraf Semnani summed up the plans for refractory improvementin Iran in the following quotes.
“There are various strategies for industry, but the overall strategy isbased on global industrial competition. Competition with global crite-ria and an increase in share based on country's potentials in global com-merce is the main goal of this sector. Hence, the strategies of replacingimported goods, total reliance on own natural resources, absolute sup-port of manufacturers and consumers are not in mind, since the indus-try can not be the sole motivator of the economical development in thecountry.
The general consideration in industrial development is aimed at eco-nomical and social welfare promotions that within the global econom-ical transformation, the present Iranian economical growth must betransformed at a faster paste.”
“Iran has many mineral resources and in some of them with respectto the universal class and standards, Iran is highly propounded. Metallicand non-metallic mines, minerals, oil and gas are among the highestcomparative advantages in Iran. The progress in petrochemical indus-tries based upon the clean gas resources with regards to the global envi-ronmental sensitivity is among our major priorities. Iran has the secondlargest gas reserves in the world.”
“With regards to the theme of this seminar "RefractoryDevelopment" whose direct influence is dependent upon the essentialmetal productions, cement and smelting factories and also the generalintention to export these goods, which in turn enhance the need formore refractory consumption. The essential metal productions withtotal reliance on essential mineral and auxiliary materials and also ener-gy, particularly environmentally clean energy (gas) and a growing,market ill the country and in the region utilize such comparative advan-tages. Hence, the development of such industries is in our utmost pri-ority list in order to secure our internal industrial needs as well as safe-guarding the export of such products.”
“In addition to the research activities carried out in the country, part-nership with those in possession of high technologies, industries andmarkets of refractories will facilitate smooth and fast development inthis industry.
Industry and mines ministry gives full support for movements in thedirection of research, technology, education, and industrial and com-merce partnership.
I hope that the academic and applied papers presented by Iranian andforeign specialists prepare the necessary grounds for achieving mutualcooperation for this vital industry in our country.
Finally, I wish to express my gratitude to all the participants and hopethat you all have a great time during the conference.”
For further information and purchasing the conference proceedingsand CD you may contact with: Professor F. Golestani-Fard,Refractory Research Group, Materials & Metallurgical Engineering,Iran University of Science & Technology, P.O. Box: 16845-195,Narmak , Tehran , Iran, Tel/Fax: +98-21-7491034 or +98-21-7451518, E-mail: [email protected], Website: http://rrg.iust.ac.ir RR AANN
Farhad Golestani-Fard,Professor
32 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
C-E Minerals901 East Eight AvenueKing of Prussia, PA 19406Tel: 610-265-6880 Fax: 610-337-7163E-mail: [email protected]: www.ceminerals.comA major world supplier of quality raw mate-rials and services to the refractory andrelated industries.• Mulcoa 47, 60, 70 • Teco-Sil
• Alpha Star • Andalusite
• Spinel • Bauxite
• Fused White Alumina
• Brown Fused Alumina
DIRECTORY OF PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND SOURCES
PRODUCTSPRODUCTS PRODUCTS
United States RefractoriesA Division of Hitchins Refractories LLCP.O. Box 9229, Louisville, KY 40209Tel: (502) 368-7787 Fax: (502) 363-3331Manufacturer of:• High, Super Duty & 70% Alumina Brick• Mortars & Plastics• Ramming & Gunning Mixes• Low Cement & Conventional Castables• Special Shapes, Burner Blocks, Anchors• Private Labeling Available
For all your refractory needs call Greg or Kurttoday.
ALLIED MINERAL PRODUCTS, INC.2700 Scioto ParkwayColumbus, OH 43221Tel: (614) 876-0244Fax: (614) 876-0981E-mail: [email protected]: www.alliedmineral.comAllied Mineral Products and its affiliatecompanies supply top quality:• Monolithic refractory linings for
induction melting equipment
• Refractory systems for blast fur-nace casthouse operations
• Refractories for aluminum melting
• Precast refractory shapes
MISSOURI REFRACTORIES CO. INC.1198 Mason CirclePevely, MO 63070Tel: (636) 479-7770Fax: (636) 479-7773E-mail: [email protected]
The Refractory Specialty Specialist• Customized mix design and manufac-
turing
• Central USA location
• ISO-9002 certified• Quick response to emergency situa-
tions• Consistent products made fresh for
your order
RESCO PRODUCTS, INC.Penn Center WestBuilding 2, Suite 430Pittsburgh PA 15276
Tel: (412) 494-4491 or (800) 354-1211Fax: (412) 494-4571E-mail: [email protected]: www.rescoproducts.comResco Products, Inc., is a leading globalmanufacturer and supplier of advancedhigh quality monolithic, formed and brickrefractories for the metals producing,hydro-carbon, power, cement and lime,ceramics, mineral and general manufactur-ing industries.
Vesuvius USA1404 Newton Dr.Champaign, IL 61822Tel: (217) 351-5000 Fax: (217) 351-5031Website: www.vesuvius.com
A strong company working to serve all your refractory needs. Vesuvius hasbeen in business since 1916 adapting to an ever-changing industry. Contact usat the following locations with your questions:
Steel Division: Sherrie Plummer 217-351-5000Industrial Products: Dave Hutzayluk 610-705-0555Foundry Division: Pat Kuzemsky 716-825-7900Glass Division: Lisa McGreevey 724-843-8300
Aarón Saenz 1918 PteMonterrey N.L. 64650 MexicoTel: 52 81 83784343 Fax: 52 81 83783434E-mail: [email protected]: www.fibratec.comNUTEC FIBRATEC is a major producerof ceramic fiber products. • Ceramic fiber blanket, modules and
engineered parts boards and vacu-um formed shapes
• Moldables and pumpables
• Paper, felts and textiles
• ISO9001 certified
Christy Minerals Company833 Booneslick High Hill, Mo 63350Tel: (636) 585-2214 Fax: (636) 585-2220E-mail: [email protected]: www.christyco.comChristy Minerals mines, processes andmarkets a variety of clays and minerals forthe refractories industry. Products includecalcined MO flint clays, raw clays (includingHawthorn Bond ), bauxite, burley anddiaspore. Custom calcining, grinding andpackaging also available.
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 33Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 33
AluChem, Inc.One Landy LaneCincinnati, OH 45215Tel: (513) 733-8519Fax: (513) 733-0608E-mail: [email protected]: www.aluchem.comAluChem focuses on production andmarketing of calcined, reactive, tabular,and hydrated alumina, zircon sand andflour, high purity magnesite, groundrefractory grade bauxite, and toll pro-cessing are also available.
DIRECTORY OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
SERVICES
PRODUCTS PRODUCTS SERVICES
The Orton Materials Testing &Research Center6991 Old 3C HighwayWesterville, OH 43082Tel: (614) 895-2663 ext. 23Fax: (614) 895-5610E-mail: [email protected]: www.ortonceramic.comOrton provides a full service independ-ent, research and testing laboratory spe-cializing in the behavior of refractoryceramic materials. Over 70 tests areavailable to support product develop-ment, quality control and failure analysis.Consulting services are also available.
HOTWORK-USA223 Gold Rush Road,Lexington, KY. 40503 U.S.A.Tel: (859) 276-1570 Fax: (859) 276-1583E-mail: [email protected]: www.hotwork.comHotwork provides refractory dryout andfurnace heatup services to all refractoryconsuming industries. Our portable burnerequipment and crews of highly skilledtechnicians are strategically locatedaround the world to best serve the needs ofour customers.
To place your ad in the Directory ofProducts and Services contact
Mary Lee at:E-mail: [email protected] or Tel: (573) 341-6561
Ads must be received byJuly 1st
for publication in the September/October 2004
issue.Ads received after the 2nd
will be placed in the nextissue.
Garland Manufacturing Company55 Industrial Park Road - POB 538Saco, Maine, 04072 USATel: (207) 283-3693 Fax: (207) 283-4834www.garlandmfg.com
Refractory Hammers, includ-ing Garland BASA Hammers,Soft-Face Striking Tools forManual Refractory Ramming.
BNZ Materials, Inc.191 Front St., Zelienople, PA 16063Tel: (724) 452-8650 or (800) 955-8650Fax: (724) 452-1346E-mail: [email protected]: www.bnzmaterials.comBNZ Materials, Inc. is a manufacturer ofpremium grade insulating firebrick,refractories, insulation materials and calci-um-silicate structural insulation boardproducts. Noted products include mari-nite, transite HT, transite 1000 and CS-85.
858 Maple LaneWaterville, OH 43566-1127Tel: (419) 878-0001 or (800) 680-4964Fax: (419) 878-4241E-mail: info@matrix_ent.comWebsite: www.matrix_ent.comMatrix Enterprises is your source for:• Silcon Carbide grain & powder• Boron Carbide powder• Borate frits for stopping the penetration of
aluminum into refractory bodies• DEPA for testing elastic properties of
materials• Diamond Tools for producing refractories
and grinding wheels.
34 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
Buyer’s Guide
1700C LAB FURNACESZircar Zirconia, Inc. P.O. Box 287, Florida, NY 10921 Tel: (845) 651-3040 Fax: (845) [email protected] www.zircarzirconia.com ALUMINA - CALCINEDAlcan Chemicals6060 Parkland Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44124Tel: 1 (800) 321-3684 Fax: 1 (440) 423-6312www.chemicals.alcan.comAlmatis501 West Park Road, Leetsdale, PA 15056Tel: (412) 630-2800 Fax: (412) [email protected] www.almatis.comAluChem, Inc.One Landy Lane. Cincinnati, OH 45215Tel: (513) 733-8519 Fax: (513) 733-0608E-mail: [email protected] GmbHAlustrasse 50-52, Schwandorf 92421 GermanyTel: ++49-9431-53 457 Fax: ++49-9431 61 [email protected] Minerals901 East Eight Ave., King of Prussia, PA 19406Tel: (610) 265-6880 Fax: (610) [email protected] Washington Mills Electro MineralsPO Box 423, Niagara Falls, NY 14302-0423Tel: (800) 828-1666 Fax: (716) [email protected] REACTIVEAlcan Chemicals6060 Parkland Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44124Tel: 1 (800) 321-3684 Fax: 1 (440) 423-6312www.chemicals.alcan.comAlmatis501 West Park Road, Leetsdale, PA 15056Tel: (412) 630-2800 Fax: (412) [email protected] www.almatis.comAluChem, Inc.One Landy Lane. Cincinnati, OH 45215Tel: (513) 733-8519 Fax: (513) [email protected] GmbHAlustrasse 50-52, Schwandorf 92421 GermanyTel: ++49-9431-53 457 Fax: ++49-9431 61 [email protected]
ALUMINA - TABULARAlmatis501 West Park Road, Leetsdale, PA 15056Tel: (412) 630-2800 Fax: (412) [email protected] www.almatis.comAluChem, Inc.One Landy Lane. Cincinnati, OH 45215Tel: (513) 733-8519 Fax: (513) [email protected] Minerals901 East Eight Ave., King of Prussia, PA 19406Tel: (610) 265-6880 Fax: (610) [email protected] ALUMINA - TRIHYDRATEAlcan Chemicals6060 Parkland Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44124Tel: 1 (800) 321-3684 Fax: 1 (440) 423-6312www.chemicals.alcan.comAlmatis501 West Park Road, Leetsdale, PA 15056Tel: (412) 630-2800 Fax: (412) [email protected] www.almatis.comAluChem, Inc.One Landy Lane. Cincinnati, OH 45215Tel: (513) 733-8519 Fax: (513) [email protected] GmbHAlustrasse 50-52, Schwandorf 92421 GermanyTel: ++49-9431-53 457 Fax: ++49-9431 61 [email protected] BRICKSResco Products, Inc.Penn Center West, Bldg. 2, Ste. 430Pittsburgh PA 15276Tel: (412) 494-4491 or (800) 354-1211 Fax: (412) 494-4571 [email protected] BAUXITEChristy Minerals833 Booneslick, High Hill, MO 63350Tel: (636) 585-2214 Fax: (636) [email protected] International Minerals, Inc.PO Box 1322, Coraopolis, PA 15108Tel: (724) 857-9903 Fax (724) [email protected]
Nanchuan Minerals GroupP.O. Box 3205, Stamford, CT 06905Tel: (203) 253-1699 Fax: (203) [email protected] www.NanchuanMinerals.comBORON CARBIDEElectro Abrasives Corp.701 Willet Rd., Buffalo, NY 14218Tel: (800) 284-4748 Fax: (716) [email protected] Washington Mills Electro MineralsPO Box 423, Niagara Falls, NY 14302-0423Tel: (800) 828-1666 Fax: (716) [email protected] ALUMINATE CEMENTAlmatis501 West Park Road, Leetsdale, PA 15056Tel: (412) 630-2800 Fax: (412) [email protected] www.almatis.comLaFarge Calcium Aluminates1316 Priority Lane, Chesapeake, VA 23324Tel: (757) 543-8832 Fax: (757) [email protected] ALUMINATES-SINTERED,FUSEDInternational Minerals, Inc.PO Box 1322, Coraopolis, PA 15108Tel: (724) 857-9903 Fax (724) [email protected] CALCIUM SILICATE INSULATIONBNZ Materials, Inc.6901 S. Pierce St., Ste. 260 Littleton, CO 80128-7205Tel: (724) 452-8650 Fax: (724) [email protected] Ltd.P.O. Box 310, 1702 Brier Park Cres. N.W.Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada T1A 7G1Tel: 1-(403) 527-1121 or 1-(888) 871-0077 Fax: 1-(403) [email protected] CEMENT (AIR SETTING)Resco Products, Inc.Penn Center West, Bldg. 2, Ste. 430 Pittsburgh PA 15276Tel: (412) 494-4491 or (800) 354-1211 Fax: (412) 494-4571 [email protected]
Buyer’s Guide Rates:Suppliers please state which category you wish to be listed under or submit your own heading. Contact: MaryLee, University of Missouri-Rolla, 222 McNutt Hall, Rolla, MO 65409, Tel: (573) 341-6561 Fax: (573) 341-6934, or E-mail: [email protected]. Rates for insertion: $90 per listing in any category for 6 issues, one year. U.S.currency, Payable in advance to: RReeffrraaccttoorriieess AApppplliiccaattiioonnss aanndd NNeewws. Your company will also be listed onour website buyer’s guide at no additional cost.
Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4 July/August 2004 35
USEM600 Steel St., Aliquippa, PA 15001Tel: (800) 927-8823 Fax: (800) [email protected] AND CURING OF REFRACTORIESHotworks-USA223 Gold Rush Road, Lexington, KY. 40503 Tel: (859) 276-1570 Fax: (859) [email protected] FIRECLAYSChristy Minerals833 Booneslick, High Hill, MO 63350Tel: (636) 585-2214 Fax: (636) [email protected] FURNACE PRODUCTS & SERVICESFurnace Products and Services, Inc.610 East Butler Road, Butler, PA 16002Tel: (724) 285-3774 Fax: (724) [email protected] FURNACE/REFRACTORY PREHEATINGHOTWORK-USA223 Gold Rush Road, Lexington, KY. 40503 Tel: (859) 276-1570 Fax: (859) [email protected] FUSED ALUMINAInternational Minerals, Inc.PO Box 1322, Coraopolis, PA 15108Tel: (724) 857-9903 Fax 724 [email protected] Nanchuan Minerals GroupP.O. Box 3205, Stamford, CT 06905Tel: (203) 253-1699 Fax: (203) [email protected] Steel St., Aliquippa, PA 15001 Tel: (800) 927-8823 Fax: (800) 729-8826E-mail: [email protected] MULLITEUSEM600 Steel St., Aliquippa, PA 15001Tel: (800) 927-8823 Fax: (800) [email protected] Mills Electro MineralsPO Box 423, Niagara Falls, NY 14302-0423Tel: (800) 828-1666 Fax: (716) [email protected] SILICAC-E Minerals 901 East Eight Ave., King of Prussia, PA 19406Tel: (610) 265-6880 Fax: (610) 337-7163 www.ceminerals.com [email protected] SPINELC-E Minerals901 East Eight Ave., King of Prussia, PA 19406Tel: (610) 265-6880 Fax: (610) [email protected] USEM600 Steel St., Aliquippa, PA 15001Tel: (800) 927-8823 Fax: (800) [email protected]
Washington Mills Electro MineralsPO Box 423, Niagara Falls, NY 14302-0423Tel: (800) 828-1666 Fax: (716) [email protected] FURNACE REPAIRSMagneco/Metrel, Inc.223 Interstate Rd, Addison, IL 60101Tel: (630) 543-6660 Fax: (630) [email protected] HIGH ALUMINA FIREBRICKSResco Products, Inc.Penn Center West, Bldg. 2, Ste. 430Pittsburgh PA 15276Tel: (412) 494-4491 or (800) 354-1211 Fax: (412) 494-4571 [email protected] Saint-Gobain Industrial Ceramics1 New Bond St., Worcester, MA 01615-0136Tel: (508) 795-2963 Fax: (508) 795-5011patrick.m.stephan@saint-gobain.comwww.refractories.saint-gobain.comINSULATING BRICKSBNZ Materials, Inc.6901 S. Pierce St., Ste. 260Littleton, CO 80128-7205Tel: (724) 452-8650 Fax: (724) [email protected], Inc.610 East Butler Rd., Butler, PA 16002Tel: (724) 282-1012 Fax: (724) [email protected] Saint-Gobain Industrial Ceramics1 New Bond St., Worcester, MA 01615-0136Tel: (508) 795-2963 Fax: (508) 795-5011patrick.m.stephan@saint-gobain.comwww.refractories.saint-gobain.comKILN/FURNACE FURNITURENth Degree Products404 Laurel Ridge Road, Hainesport, NJ 08036Tel: (609) 518-9447 Fax: (609) 518-9445 [email protected] Industrial Ceramics1 New Bond St., Worcester, MA 01615-0136Tel: (508) 795-2963 Fax: (508) 795-5011patrick.m.stephan@saint-gobain.comwww.refractories.saint-gobain.comMAGNESITE,-FUSED, DEADBURNED, CAL-CINEDInternational Minerals, Inc.PO Box 1322, Coraopolis, PA 15108Tel: (724) 857-9903 Fax 724 [email protected] MONOLITHIC REFRACTORIESAllied Mineral Products, Inc.2700 Scioto Pkwy., Columbus, OH 43221Tel: (614) 876-0244 Fax: (614) [email protected] Chicago Fire Brick Div. of Allied MineralProducts, Inc.2700 Scioto Pkwy., Columbus, OH 43221Tel: (614) 876-0244 Fax: (614) [email protected] www.chicagofirebrick.com
Matrix Refractories Div. of Allied MineralProducts, Inc.2700 Scioto Pkwy., Columbus, OH 43221Tel: (614) 876-0244 Fax: (614) [email protected] MONOLITHIC REFRACTORIES -CASTABLEMagneco/Metrel, Inc.223 Interstate Rd, Addison, IL 60101Tel: (630) 543-6660 Fax: (630) [email protected] Resco Products, Inc.Penn Center West, Bldg. 2, Ste. 430Pittsburgh PA 15276Tel: (412) 494-4491 or (800) 354-1211 Fax: (412) [email protected] Saint-Gobain Industrial Ceramics1 New Bond St., Worcester, MA 01615-0136Tel: (508) 795-2963 Fax: (508) 795-5011patrick.m.stephan@saint-gobain.comwww.refractories.saint-gobain.comMONOLITHIC REFRACTORIES GUNNINGResco Products, Inc.Penn Center West, Bldg. 2, Ste. 430Pittsburgh PA 15276Tel: (412) 494-4491 or (800) 354-1211 Fax: (412) 494-4571 [email protected] Saint-Gobain Industrial Ceramics1 New Bond St., Worcester, MA 01615-0136Tel: (508) 795-2963 Fax: (508) 795-5011patrick.m.stephan@saint-gobain.comwww.refractories.saint-gobain.comMONOLITHIC REFRACTORIES MOULD-ABLEResco Products, Inc.Penn Center West, Bldg. 2, Ste. 430Pittsburgh PA 15276Tel: (412) 494-4491 or (800) 354-1211 Fax: (412) 494-4571 [email protected] MONOLITHIC REFRACTORIESPUMPABLEMagneco/Metrel, Inc.223 Interstate Rd, Addison, IL 60101Tel: (630) 543-6660 Fax: (630) [email protected] Resco Products, Inc.Penn Center West, Bldg. 2, Ste. 430Pittsburgh PA 15276Tel: (412) 494-4491 or (800) 354-1211 Fax: (412) 494-4571 [email protected] REFRACTORY SHAPESAmerican Precast Refractories, Inc.2700 Scioto Pkwy., Columbus, OH 43221Tel: (614) 876-8416 Fax: (614) [email protected]
36 July/August 2004 Refractories Applications and News, Volume 9, Number 4
Magneco/Metrel, Inc.223 Interstate Rd, Addison, IL 60101Tel: (630) 543-6660 Fax: (630) [email protected] PRECISION REFRACTORY SHAPESResco Products, Inc.Penn Center West, Bldg 2, Ste. 430Pittsburgh PA 15276Tel: (412) 494-4491 or (800) 354-1211 Fax: (412) 494-4571 [email protected] Industrial Ceramics1 New Bond St., Worcester, MA 01615-0136Tel: (508) 795-2963 Fax: (508) 795-5011patrick.m.stephan@saint-gobain.comwww.refractories.saint-gobain.comPRESS TOOLINGJohnson Machine Company Inc.P.O. Box 669, 290 Bigler Ave. Clearfield, PA 16830Tel: (814) 765-9648 Fax: (814) [email protected] ADDITIVESMatrix Enterprises858 Maple Lane, Waterville, OH 43566Tel: (419) 878-0001 Fax: (419) [email protected] REFRACTORY AGGREGATESResco Products, Inc.Penn Center West, Bldg. 2, Ste. 430Pittsburgh PA 15276Tel: (412) 494-4491 or (800) 354-1211 Fax: (412) 494-4571 [email protected] REFRACTORY ANCHORSResco Products, Inc.Penn Center West, Bldg. 2, Ste. 430Pittsburgh PA 15276Tel: (412) 494-4491 or (800) 354-1211 Fax: (412) [email protected] REFRACTORY GUNNING & SHOTCRETEEQUIPMENTAllentown Equipment421 Schantz Road, Allentown, PA 18104 USATel: (800) 553-3414 or (610) 398-0451 Fax: (610) 391-1934info@AllentownEquipment.comwww.AllentownEquipment.comBlastcrete Equipment Company2505 Alexandria Rd., PO Box 1964Anniston, AL 36202Tel: (256) 235-2700 or 1 (800) 235-4867 Fax: (256) [email protected] or [email protected] LANCESRefractory Service Corp., Inc.4900 Cline Ave., PO Box 2276East Chicago, IN 46312Tel: (219) 397-7108 Fax: (219) [email protected]
REFRACTORY MATERIALS CHARACTERI-ZATION AND TESTING SERVICESR. E. Moore & Associates, LLCPO Box 314, Rolla, MO 65402Tel: (573) [email protected] MACHINING Refractory Machining Services610 E. Butler Road, Butler, PA 16002Tel: (724) 285-7674 Fax: (724) [email protected] MIXERSAnchor Manufacturing Company2922 West 26th St., Chicago, IL 60623-4127Tel: (773) 247-2530 Fax: (773)[email protected] REFRACTORY RECYCLINGA-TEN-C, Inc.P.O. Box 58184, Pittsburgh, PA 15209Tel: (412) 821-5566 Fax: (412) [email protected] BRICKUtah Refractories Corp.P.O. Box 12536, Pittsburgh, PA 15241Tel: (412) 851-2430 Fax: (412) [email protected] FUMENorchem, Inc.PO Box 5537, Hauppauge, NY 11788Tel: 631-724-8639 Fax: 631-724-8645 E-mail: [email protected] MATERIALSBNZ Materials, Inc.6901 S. Pierce St., Ste. 260, LittletonCO 80128-7205Tel: (724) 452-8650 Fax: (724) [email protected] CARBIDEElectro Abrasives Corp. 701 Willet Rd., Buffalo, NY 14218 Tel: (800) 284-4748 Fax: (716) [email protected] International Minerals, Inc.PO Box 1322, Coraopolis, PA 15108Tel: (724) 857-9903 Fax (724) [email protected] Washington Mills Electro MineralsPO Box 423, Niagara Falls, NY 14302-0423Tel: (800) 828-1666 Fax: (716) [email protected] CARBIDE REFRACTORY SHAPESSaint-Gobain Industrial Ceramics1 New Bond St., Worcester, MA 01615-0136Tel: (508) 795-2963 Fax: (508) 795-5011patrick.m.stephan@saint-gobain.comwww.refractories.saint-gobain.comSPINEL-SINTEREDAlmatis501 West Park Road, Leetsdale, PA 15056Tel: (412) 630-2800 Fax: (412) [email protected] www.almatis.com
STEEL FIBERSD & C Supply Company, Inc.335 Washington Ave., Bridgeville, PA 15017Tel: (412) 221-1191 Fax: (412) 221-9206www.steelfiber.comFibercon International Inc.100 S. Third St, Evans City, PA 16033Tel: (724) 538-5006 Fax: (724) [email protected] SYNTHETIC SINTERED MULLITENabaltec GmbHAlustrasse 50-52, Schwandorf 92421 GermanyTel: ++49-9431-53 457 Fax: ++49-9431 61 [email protected] PROPERTIES ANALYZERS ANDTESTING SERVICESAnter Corporation1700 Universal Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15235-3998Tel: (412) 795-6410 Fax: (412) [email protected]/raTOLL CRUSHING & GRINDINGAluChem, Inc.One Landy Lane. Cincinnati, OH 45215Tel: (513) 733-8519 Fax: (513) [email protected] Minerals833 Booneslick, High Hill, MO 63350Tel: (636) 585-2214 Fax: (636) [email protected] PROCESSING, WAREHOUSINGInternational Minerals, Inc.PO Box 1322, Coraopolis, PA 15108Tel: (724) 857-9903 Fax (724) [email protected] Vessell Mineral Products CorporationP.O. Box 440, Bonne Terre, MO 63628Tel: (573) 358-2275 Fax: (573) 358-4201ZIRCON SAND & FLOURAluChem, Inc.One Landy Lane. Cincinnati, OH 45215Tel: (513) 733-8519 Fax: (513) [email protected] Mills Electro MineralsPO Box 423, Niagara Falls, NY 14302-0423Tel: (800) 828-1666 Fax: (716) [email protected] Dow Road, Bow NH 03304Tel: (603) 228-1305 Fax: (603) [email protected] www.z-techzirconia.comZIRCONIA FIBER INSULATIONZircar Zirconia, Inc. P.O. Box 287, Florida, NY 10921 Tel: (845) 651-3040 Fax: (845) [email protected] www.zircarzirconia.com
Free Openings, as Easy asPopping a Cork
ENGINEERED OLIVINE EBT AGGREGATES
When your EBT refractory must hold without sintering,then flow freely upon release, make sure the “cork” is VANGUARD™. The optimal combination of size distribution and packing density, VANGUARD olivinedelivers refractory values well in excess of tapping temperatures and a basic chemistry which minimizeschemical attack for a longer tap hole life.
Unimin CorporationNorth America: 800-243-9004 Fax: 800-243-9005
E-mail: [email protected]
Worldwide: www.metalcaster.com
™ VANGUARD is a trademark. All rights reserved. ©2003
™
on the initiative this year. Senator Orrin Hatch and a bipartisan groupof Senators have been pushing the measure. The problem is not somuch opposition to the concept, but disagreement on the details ofhow to fund the trust fund and at what level to fund it.
House Passes OSHA Reform BillsThe House of Representatives has passed a group of measures to
assist small business in dealing with OSHA requirements and proce-dures:
The Occupational Safety and Health Small Business Day in CourtAct (H.R.2728) would give the Occupational Safety and HealthReview Commission more flexibility to make exceptions when asmall business misses the fifteen day deadline for filing a response toOSHA citations.
The Occupational Safety and Health Review CommissionEfficiency Act (H.R.2729) would increase the membership of theOccupational Safety and Health Review Commission from three tofive, in hopes that cases will be reviewed in a more timely fashion.
The Occupational Safety and Health Independent Review of OSHACitations Act (H.R.2730) would clarify that the Occupational Safetyand Health Review Commission is an independent entity which isgiven deference by the courts reviewing OSHA issues.
The Occupational Safety and Health Small Employer Access toJustice Act (H.R. 2731) would allow small employers to be awardedattorneys fees when they contest OSHA citations and prevail in court.
These four bills are expected to be combined into one piece of leg-islation when then measures move to the Senate. There is no action asyet scheduled in the Senate on the legislation. RR AANN
TRI News Continued From Page 5
University of Missouri-RollaDept. of Ceramic Engineering222 McNutt Hall1870 Miner Circle DriveRolla, MO 65409-0330
PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAIDROLLA, MOPERMIT NO. 203
Azadi Tower which is one of the first things a visitor sees coming from the airport and Qazwin.
