Postmortem Study of a Magnesia-Chromite Brick from a Lead Recycling Furnace

This study provides an example of a detailed postmortem analysis carried out on a used silicate-bonded magnesia-chromite brick out of a lead recycling furnace. The magnesia-chromite brick suffered from a high chemical attack due to the process slag. The high CaO, BaO, and sulfur-bearing silicate slag, as well as a high Na2O supply from soda resulted not only in a deep-reaching infiltration of the brick microstructure but also in a severe corrosion of the brick components. Both the sintered magnesia and chromite were attacked chemically. The FactSage calculations showed the formation of high amounts of liquid phase in the infiltrated microstructure and the formation of various Na-Ca-Al-silicates. A detailed investigation of the wear mechanisms through "postmortem studies" is a crucial prerequisite for every refractory producer to understand the interactions between slag and refractory materials. The obtained information and insights serve as a basis for improving refractory materials (i.e., choice of refractories for individual process and new developments) and consequently furnace operations (i.e., prolonged furnace campaigns).