Enhanced corrosion resistance of magnesia-chrome refractories impregnated with zirconia sol.

In order to enhance the corrosion resistance to molten vanadates and silicates of middle and upper checker bricks in glass furnace regenerator with petroleum coke as fuel, the present research improved the microstructure, compactness and corrosion resistance of magnesia-chrome refractories by vacuum impregnation with zirconia sol. The results show that the vacuum impregnation of zirconia sol and the increased impregnation times led to the significant increase in the bulk density and decrease in the apparent porosity of refractories, and the impregnated zirconia particles enhanced the corrosion and penetration resistance. The penetrated zirconia particles in the pores decreased the porosity and pore size of refractories, resulting in the inhibited penetration of vanadate and silicate liquid phases during the corrosion process. In addition, the zirconia particles around periclase particles also prevented the reaction between molten corrosion reagent and periclase, thus enhancing the corrosion resistance of refractories. The present study provides an effective method for improving the corrosion resistance of magnesia-chrome checker bricks in regenerator of glass furnace with petroleum coke as fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]