Mechanical properties, thermal shock and corrosion behaviors of mgo-mgal2o4 and mgo-feal2o4 composite refractory materials incorporated by zrsio4-zro2-y2o3

New composite refractory materials were produced by incorporating i) ZrSiO4+Y2O3, ZrO2+Y2O3 and hercynite at different ratios into MgO-MgAl2O4, and additionally ii) spinel (MgAl2O4) and zircon (ZrSiO4) at various ratios intoMgO-hercynite. The mechanical properties, thermal shock resistance at 500 °C and 1000 °C and corrosion behaviors of those materials produced were examined and the parameters affecting these features were investigated. The values of density, relative density, open porosity, strength, elastic modulus, fracture toughness, fracture surface energy, work of fracture, the critical flaw size and the average grain size of MgO were measured, and the thermal stress/shock parameters (R, R???, R????, Rst) and ?WOF/?S ratios were calculated. After performing corrosion tests, the corrosion resistance of composite refractory materials were determined by measuring the penetration distances and spreading areas. In addition, the formation of new phases and the microstructural changes occurred were determined by XRD measurements and SEM analyses. Mechanical properties, thermal shock resistance and corrosion resistance of materials obtained by incorporating: i) ZrSiO4+Y2O3, ZrO2+Y2O3 and hercynite into MgO-MgAl2O4, and ii) spinel and zircon into MgO-hercynite were improved significantly. The optimum amounts of constituents incorporated into new composite refractory materials used for obtaining longer service life in industrial applications were determined.