Corroded and worn refractory firebrick.
The primary needs for refractories as protective linings are destructive process environments. As a result of harsh environments, refractory linings will wear down over time, requiring periodic maintenance and eventual replacement. In any process environment, refractories are potentially continuously under attack from a number of destructive processes. Here’s a list of common conditions that wear down refractories.
- Thermal Cycling: As refractory linings undergo the heating and cooling cycles of a process, the lining expands and contracts, eventually weakening and wearing down the lining. If a refractory lining experiences a rapid change in temperature, a.k.a Thermal Shock, the lining can experience immediate damage.
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Glassing on refractory firebrick.
Abrasion: Abrasive media, including fuel, ash, and other particles, can wear away a refractory lining over time, much like sandblasting.
- Corrosion: Materials and byproducts of the process can chemically react with the refractory lining, potentially causing glassing or softening of the refractories.
- Mechanical Wear: Moving parts and equipment within a process can wear against the refractory lining, jeopardizing the structural integrity of the refractory lining.
- Erosion: Linings can be worn away over time from the washing action of moving liquids, such as molten metals or slags. Erosion further exposes refractory to destruction by corrosive or abrasive elements.
These are just a few of of the common conditions that wear down refractories. The effects of many of these conditions can be mitigated or minimized by selecting the right refractories to withstand the destructive conditions present in your process. Joe Moore & Company has decades of experience selecting refractories and engineering refractories solutions. If you are experiencing problems with your refractory, please give us a call at (919) 832-1665.
