2024-09-19 –, Europe Hall
In recent years, cement-free binders have been of interest due to their fast dryout behavior and improved high-temperature performance properties compared to low-cement castables. However, the mechanical strength of conventional no-cement castables (NCCs) at intermediate temperatures is limited. This study aims to develop innovative binder systems specifically for NCCs that are primarily targeted at intermediate temperature applications but can also be used at high temperatures. The flowability, setting behaviour, and mechanical strength of NCCs containing different types of cement-free binders were initially evaluated. Subsequently, the hot properties, including hot modulus of rupture (HMOR) and refractoriness under load (RUL) were evaluated. The results demonstrated that a novel binder incorporating a speciality additive, either SioxX®-Ten or SioxX®-Ten PLUS, exhibited superior mechanical strength and improved hot properties across various temperatures. Notably, the RUL results indicated that the NCCs with the novel binder contributed to mullite formation at lower temperature than the conventional NCC, and with less shrinkage after maximum expansion. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed that the introduction of the novel binder influenced both the temperature of mullite formation and the morphology of the formed mullite, contributing to the observed improvements. Overall, this study highlights the significant potential of the novel binder in enhancing the performance and durability of NCC and ultra-low cement alumina based (ULCC) castables for intermediate temperature applications in various industrial sectors, including but not limited to aluminum, petrochemicals, and power plants.
Dr. Hong Peng is a senior research scientist and project manager at Elkem Silicon Products Development, Kristiansand in Norway. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Department of Material Science and Engineering at Zhejiang University in China, and her Ph.D. from Stockholm University in Sweden. Her doctoral project utilized spark plasma sintering techniques for Si3N4-based ceramics.
Throughout her career, she has gained extensive knowledge and expertise in ceramics and refractory research through various roles, including lecturer and researcher at Zhejiang University, guest researcher/teaching assistant at Stockholm University, and postdoctoral researcher at the Max-Planck-Institute for Metals Research in Germany. She has published over 100 papers in well-established scientific journals and conferences, such as Nature, the Journal of the American Ceramic Society, and the Journal of Materials Research. She is also a member of the American Ceramic Society and a steering member of the education board of FIRE.
Currently, she is responsible for monolithic refractory technology and new product development for refractory as a senior research scientist and project manager at Elkem Silicon Materials R&D.