Estudio de la degradación de elementos refractarios de alúmina en la sinterización de aceros modificados con Mn = Study of the Degradation of the Alumina Refractory during the Sintering Process of Steels Modified with Mn

The present work studies the degradation of the refractory bricks for sintering furnace, when steels with Mn are sintered. Due to the high Pvapour of Mn and the standard sintering atmospheres for this type of steels, Mn sublimates during the thermal cycle. This sublimation results in a gaseous phase beneficial to the diffusion processes related to the sintering of the steel but it could also alter the refractory's composition. It is known that in the corrosion of refractory ceramics are many the individual processes involved, but always based on the physical-chemical properties of the corrosive agent, as well as the intrinsic properties of the refractory such as the interconnected porosity and the presence of multiple phases (1). Independently of the operating mechanism, new compounds can be produced altering the refractory behaviour, accelerating the ageing and diminishing its working conditions. For this matter, it is studied the evolution of the refractory tiles with the exposure time to Mn containing atmospheres at a standard sintering temperature, 1120 ºC. Microstructural changes in the refractory elements, as a consequence of the presence of Mn(g) are analysed through optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with XR microanalyses (EDS), XR diffraction and XRF fluorescence studies.

Estudio de la degradación de elementos refractarios de alúmina en la sinterización de aceros modificados con Mn = Study of the Degradation of the Alumina Refractory during the Sintering Process of Steels Modified with Mn Articles