Sodium sulphate attack on magnesia aluminate spinel bricks

Abstract

The behaviour of four different magnesia aluminate spinel bricks under sodium sulphate attack at 700 to 1100 °C has been investigated. In the so-called "glass tank checker test" the bricks were exposed to a mixture of NaHSO4 and SO2 which was added directly to the flame. These spinel bricks consisted of: brick with sintered spinel and forsterite bonding, brick with sintered spinel and MgO addition, brick with sintered spinel and spinel bonding, brick with fused spinel and spinel bonding. The investigation comprised chemical zone analyses and mineralogical examination. The purpose of the experiment was to find out the most suitable quality for the intermediate layers of the regenerators of oil-fired melting tanks for soda-lime-silica glass.