Alteration analysis of refractories bricks for industrial horizontal anodes baking furnace

Abstract This study analyses the alteration of refractory bricks after 96 baking cycles of anode baking furnace. A decrease of compressive strength from 48.45 MPa to 32 MPa respectively for unused and used bricks were observed. The bulk density obtained by mercury intrusion porosimeter method decreased from 2.48 to 2.38 g/cm 3 for unused and used bricks; while the bulk density by archimades method increased from 2.29 to 2.49 g/cm 3 . The water absorption by Archimedes method is decreased from 6.65wt.% to 5.05wt.%. While the total porosity obtained by mercury intrusion porosimeter increased from 15.41wt.% to 17.21wt.% for unused and used bricks. In the same way the total cumulative pore increased from 62.05 mm 3 /g to 72.35 mm 3 /g. While the average pore radius decreased from 5.65 µm to 1.06 µm respectively for unused and used brick. The anode side of brick is deterioted rapidly than hot side of brick. The instrusion porosimetry method seems to be the best method to characterize buld density and porosimetry of refractory bricks than Archimedes method. Mullite peak seems to be not change, suggesting that a very compacted brick with high mullite content seems to be the best matrix for bricks in anode baking furnace.