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A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON REFRACTORY PROPERTIES OF DOLOMITE USING CLAY AS ADDITIVES
Authors: Oyetunji Oluremilekun Ropo, Pele Babatope Olabanji &Orisawayi Abimbola Oluwatayo
Number of views: 472
The progress in the metallurgical field in Nigeria has called for an increase in demand for refractory materials in
recent times. A large proportion of these materials are currently being imported to meet its increasing demand. Therefore,
this stirs up the need to investigate the properties of suitable locally made refractory.
This study presents the results of comparative analysis and evaluation of the refractory properties of some
prepared dolomite purchased at Ilorin using clay deposit in OrileIgbon, Ogbomosho, Nigeria as an additive with a view of
improving the suitability of dolomite uses as a refractory material.
The test carried out, revealed that the dolomite and water has a bulk density between 1.27 – 2.05g/cm3, linear
shrinkage between 0 - 0.73%, 12-17 cycles for thermal resistance and a value between 0.21 and 0.34KN/cm2 for cold
crushing strength, dolomite, water and honey has a bulk density between 1.61 – 3.03g/cm3, linear shrinkage between 0 -
0.74%, 12-35 cycles for thermal resistance and a value between 1.11 - 2.51KN/cm2 for cold crushing strength. Dolomite,
clay, water, and honey has a bulk density between 1.72 – 2.56g/cm3, linear shrinkage between 0 - 0.76%, 19-42 cycles for
thermal resistance and a value between 1.41 and 2.57KN/cm2 for cold crushing strength and clay and water has a bulk
density between 1.93 – 2.44g/cm3, linear shrinkage between 0 - 8.70%, 22-42 cycles for thermal resistance and a value
between 2.90-3.95KN/cm2 for cold crushing strength which shows that the investigated properties, the mixture (clay and
dolomite) and clay alone are better refractory materials and suitable for lining of furnace where the materials melted
requires basic environmental and operating temperature above 1100oC than dolomite alone