Refractories for graphite spheroidizing of cast iron

Engineering Service Group, Engineering Dept. NIPPON CRUCIBLE CO., LTD.

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Introduction

In recent years the spheroidal graphite cast iron (ductile cast iron) has drawn attention from the point of view of economy and weight reduction. Since the spheroidal graphite cast iron can be given high static strength by heat treatment, it is used as material of various structural elements. (Fig. 1.3 shows the breakdown of the casting production in fiscal 2000.) To produce high quality spheroidal graphite cast iron, it is essential to ensure reliable control of molten metal including in the melting process. In the graphite spheroidizing process, it is not enough to simply spheroidize graphite. It is important to realize a graphite spheroidizing process that gives a high yield of casting and less failure rate and only requires reasonable cost. There are many ways of spheroidizing: converter, tundish, prolonged holding, pressurization, plunger and other methods. Each of these methods uses its own special refractory material.

Figure 1.3: Casting production (2000)

Total: 6,280,736 tons Source: Tsutsumi, "SOKEIZAI" Vol.42, (2001) 4,4

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Example of spheroidizing process and typical refractories

Various refractories are used to make up a spheroidizing ladle. The following shows typical refractories used in the ladle:

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Shaped refractories for spheroidizing process

Among the refractories for spheroidizing process, typical products are listed in the table below. Plungers, runners, pipes and other refractory products are also available for other processes. Contact us.

Product Material Composition Chemical composition (%) F.C SiC SiO2 Al2O3 Bulk specific gravity Modulus of rupture (MPa) Thermal conductivity (W/mK) Features

Magpot CTX-620SR High alumina-SiC

Graphite Crucible C4 Graphite-SiC-clay

Chamber Wall CL-5 Corundum-graphite-SiC

9 31 54 2.56 12.7 2.1 Shaped special castable for spheroidizing ladles, available in various shapes

30 33 22 9 2.15 13.7 24.4 CIP molding for spheroidizing ladles, highly resistant to thermal shock

33 10 9 44 2.05 13.5 20.4 Carbon bond for converters, highly resistant to thermal shock

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Monolithic refractories for spheroidizing process

<<CASTIX Series>>
This is a product series of special castables making full use of the combining and distribution technologies for superfine materials that have been accumulated over the years. The products have the features: [1] cementless, [2] lower water content (when kneaded), [3] higher strength, [4] higher erosion resistance, and [5] higher spalling resistance, comparing to the conventional castables. Product Maximum working temperature (C) Composition Chemical composition (%) SiC SiO2 Al2O3 Modulus of rupture (MPa) 110 1000 1400 Thermal conductivity at 1000 C (W/mK) Installation amount (kg/m3) CASTIX 703SRA (1,600) High alumina -SiC 22 19 53 35.0< 7.5> 65.0< 9.5> 130.0<19.5> 2.6 2,700 CASTIX 902SRA (1,800) Curundum-SiC 9 4 85 22.5< 5.0> 50.0<10.5> 98.0<20.0> 3.3 3,200 For high durability or high temperature applications CASTIX 620RA 1,700 High alumina 37 60 57.0<12.5> 86.0<13.5> 110.0<15.0> 1.4 2,600 Improved molten metal heat retaining property, more energy saving

Features

For general purpose