Abstract

This work develops and characterizes a new family of magnesia-carbon refractory bricks (MgO-C) bonded with a new pitch modified by the addition of carbon nanofibers (CNFs), thus producing a MgO-C-CNF refractory.

Steel makers and refractory suppliers rely on MgO-C bricks for some of the most aggressive industrial applications.  This research, by fully characterizing a reference formulation, suggests the use of a CNF doped pitch, while maintaining its characteristics as a binder and source of carbon, increases the MgO-C resistance to oxidation and thermal shock.  The conclusion is that CNF doping modifies the pitch microstructure, and hence the refractory microstructure, introducing a number of new mechanisms for thermal stress absorption.