Cements for elevated and high temperature applications

The resistance of graphite to thermal shock, its stability at high temperatures, and its resistance to corrosion permit its use as self-supporting vessels to contain reactions at elevated temperatures (800—1700°C), eg, self-supporting reaction vessels for the direct chlorination of metal and alkaline-earth oxides. The vulnerability of cemented joints in these applications requires dose tolerance (d=0.10 mm) machining, a feat easily accomplished on graphite with conventional metal machining equipment. 

Properties of CBCs lie between ceramics and cements. These materials are formed at room temperature like cements, or may be synthesized at slightly elevated temperatures, but their structure is highly crystalline or glass-crystalline composite. The particles in CBCs are bonded by a paste formed by chemical reaction, as in cements, but the particles themselves are mostly crystalline. Their strengths are higher than those of cements but fall short of sintered ceramics. Their corrosion resistance is close to ceramics, but at the same time, they may be vulnerable to erosion like cements. The ease of formation of these ceramics, their rapid setting behavior and low cost make them very attractive for the various applications discussed in this book. 

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