Mineralogy of the ceramic build-ups in channel induction furnaces.

摘要

Channel induction furnaces are the primary melting and holding furnaces used in iron foundries. Their peculiar problem is build-ups deposited in critical locations in or near the throats of inductor units. Such deposits are undesirable since they slow down melt circulation, increase power consumption and cost, and decrease the quality of the metal. This study involved the determination of the mineralogy of build-up samples and the quantitative measurement of phase abundance in those build-ups by cathodoluminescence microscopy.;These undesirable deposits were found to consist of high temperature minerals, spinel, corundum, periclase, hibonite, forsterite, monticellite, melilite, anorthite, mullite, hercynite, and silica minerals (quartz and cristobalite) with minor amounts of glassy materials of low melting point. Sulfide minerals include oldhamite, oldhamite-ninningerite solid solution, and rare earth oxysulfides. Ca-REE silicate and REE-Al oxides are present in lesser amounts. Most build-up minerals exhibit cathodoluminescence due to the presence of transition metal ions (