Further advantages of carbon containing refractories

Question 1

What are the characteristics of the microstructures of carbon containing refractories?

Answer 1

~ resistant to crack propogation (cracks must travel around graphite flakes and there is no continuous brittle oxide bond)

~ graphite has high thermal conductivity, good thermal shock resistance

Question 2

How is the high thermal conductivity of carbon containing refractories utilitzed?

Answer 2

~ used in conjunction with cooling systems

~ for example: cause molten iron in a blast furnace (which is adjacent to the refractory wall) to solidify, making the interior molten metal self-containing, REDUCING REFRACTORY WEAR