Thermal expansion, refractories

The refractory industry has found chromite useful for forming bricks and shapes, as it has a high melting point, moderate thermal expansion, and stability of crystalline structure. 

Thermal Properties. Refractories, like most other soHds, expand upon heating, but much less than most metals. The degree of expansion depends on the chemical composition. A diagram of the thermal expansion of the most common refractories is shown in Figure 1. 

Uses. Hot-pressed hBN is useful for high temperature electric or thermal insulation, vessels, etc, especially in inert or reducing atmospheres, and for special materials such as IITV semiconductors (qv). Its low thermal expansion makes it resistant to thermal shock. The powder can be used as a mold release agent or as thermal insulation. Boron nitride is also available in fiber form (19). BN deposited pyrolyticaHy on refractory substrates at 1200—1800°C has a turbostratic stmcture and low porosity it has greater chemical resistance and is impervious to helium. 

Because of high thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion, siUcon carbide is very resistant to thermal shock as compared to other refractory materials. 

In North America, a special, high conductivity, low permeability, "hot-pressed" carbon brick is utilized almost exclusively for hearth walls. Because of their relatively small size and special, heat setting resin cement, and because the brick is installed tightly against the cooled jacket or stave, differential thermal expansion can be accommodated without refractory cracking and effective cooling can be maintained. Additionally, the wall thickness is generally smaller than 1 m, which promotes the easy formation of a protective skull of frozen materials on its hot face. Thus hearth wall problems and breakouts because of carbon wall refractory failure are virtually nonexistent. 

MiscelDneous. Other important properties are resistance to thermal shock, attack by slag, and, in the case of refractories (qv), thermal expansion. For whiteware, translucency, acceptance of glazes, etc, may be extremely important. These properties depend on the clay mineral composition, the method of manufacture and impurity content. 

Monolithic refractory coatings have been applied to metallic components in furnaces for fuel ash corrosion control. Results have been less than satisfactory because of the large thermal expansion mismatch between the metal and refractory. Failure usually occurs upon thermal cycling which causes cracking, eventual spalling of the refractory, and direct exposure of the metal to the effects of the fuel ash. 

The main characteristic of refractory oxides is their excellent resistance to oxidation. Their brittleness however makes them prone to thermal shock with the exception of silica which has a compensating low coefficient of thermal expansion. The chemical resistance of the major oxides deposited by CVD is rated in Table 17.7. 

Thermal expansion characteristics, elasticity (implying thereby the ability to yield to stress without rupture), and strength are among the most important properties of refractories which influence their resistance to spalling. 

Develop a detailed mechanical design of the CO conversion reactor, paying particular attention to the choice of alloy steels versus refractory linings, provisions for thermal expansion, inlet gas distribution, catalyst bed-support design, facilities for charging and discharging catalyst and provisions for instrumentation. 

Vitreous silica has a wide range of commercial and scientific applications. Its unique combination of physical properties includes good chemical resistance, minimal thermal expansion, high refractoriness, and excellent optical transmission from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared. 

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