Refractory materials are widely used in high-temperature environments, including metallurgy, petrochemical, electric power and other industrial fields. However, to meet these demanding environmental conditions, refractory materials must perform exceptionally well. The choice of binder plays a crucial role in improving the performance of refractory materials. This article will introduce in detail several common binders and their impact on the performance of refractory materials to help you make optimal choices in formula design.
There are many types of binders, but the most common ones include organic binders, inorganic binders and chemical binders. Each binder has its own unique properties that affect the strength, heat resistance and wear resistance of the refractory material.
Organic binders are commonly used in refractory bricks and castables, such as phenolic resin and urea-formaldehyde resin. They break down at high temperatures, leaving behind a carbonaceous residue that helps improve the material's heat resistance.
Inorganic binders include water glass, phosphates and cement, which are stable at high temperatures and do not break down easily. Phosphate binders can significantly increase the compressive strength of materials, while cement binders are suitable for lower temperature areas.
Chemical binders such as sodium aluminate and ethyl silicate are mainly used in the field of precision casting. They can initially harden at low temperatures and show good stability at high temperatures.
Different industrial applications have different requirements for refractory materials, so it is particularly important to choose the appropriate binder.
The metallurgical industry requires refractory materials to withstand high temperatures for long periods of time in blast furnaces, so binders are needed to provide excellent heat resistance. Phosphate binders are frequently used in the manufacture of high-performance refractory bricks.
In the petrochemical industry, refractory materials must not only resist high temperatures, but also resist strong acid and alkali corrosion. Phenolic resin binders perform well in this scenario, providing good acid, alkali and heat resistance.
Refractory materials used in the power industry require high strength and wear resistance. Cement binders are often used in electric boiler lining materials to ensure that the materials have good mechanical properties at high temperatures.
In formula design, the selection of binders must not only consider a single performance, but also comprehensively consider the use environment and lifespan of the material. For best results, adopt the following strategies:
Different industrial environments have different requirements for refractory materials, so when selecting binders, a specific use environment assessment should be conducted.
In order to achieve the best overall performance, sometimes two or more binding agents can be selected to be used in combination to make up for the shortcomings of a single binding agent.
In the actual application process, the use effect of refractory materials should be regularly evaluated, and the binder formula should be adjusted according to actual needs to improve the long-term effectiveness and applicability of the materials.
The choice of binder has a crucial impact on the performance of refractory materials. Through reasonable selection and optimization of binders, the performance and service life of refractory materials can be greatly improved to meet the needs of different industrial applications. In future research and applications, more new binders and optimized combinations will continue to emerge, bringing more possibilities to the refractory industry.