Any recopies for 5000 degree refractory in steel making?

[Ice Czar]

Originally Posted by J. Bennett

I'm being coy because I have patent pending.

one of the ten most expensive metals on earth known for its superconducting properties in some alloys patent pending?
a good refractory steel would be very useful around here

was actually looking for "wheel" "gear" "ingot"

have fun

(its about time we had more alchemy in here)

[J. Bennett]

Boy, you ain't kidding.
Briefly, I chose rhenium because of it's unique properties. It's the only metal that is malleable from absolute zero, to it's melting point, which is quite high. Around 5200F!
The platinum group, can contribute to simple steel, above and beyond current paradigms.
Just like anything, all it takes is money...

[R Funk]

J Bennet

Best of luck on your patent!

Let us know when you get it and can discuss it.

Patents can be a very interesting process. Are you going to go for several international patents or will you stick with US only?

[evfreek]

Hi Jerry. If you are interested in thermite, you may wish to read:

http://journalof911studies.com/volum...emistryWTC.pdf

Especially interesting is Figure 3. Disregard all the non-thermodynamic stuff. The appendix is a great reference section for the temperature dependent heat capacities of the reactants. The iron phase transitions are neglected, and these will cause the calculations to be optimistic (pessimistic ). But the error introduced by neglecting radiation and other mechanisms of heat loss is much higher.

I wonder that, with sufficient diluent in the form of low carbon steel/iron, you could decrease the temperature requirement of the refractory. The characteristic heat transfer time for small steel punchings or granules is probably on the order of a second, with the high radiative component.

[J. Bennett]

That has a lot of useful information.
T-mite is low tech, but after observing scores of runs, some up to 12 pounds, I know that there are a lot of complicated thermal dynamics going on.

I didn't like the sulfur/iron info though. I assumed the reaction got rid of all that nasty stuff.
As for the 5000 degree requirement, I put melt doors in the bottom and a very small tap hole. That way it gives the reaction some time to settle and separate. Consequently it sits on the refractory a while. I've weighed the iron afterwards, including all the "spatter" I could find. I find that during large runs, about 5% of the iron boils away. There is probably +- 2% as there might be a bit of unreacted iron oxide in the slag. That's around 6000F. So there are "hot spots" in the reaction.

I have designed a t-mite furnace I call "the star chamber", that utilizes a lot of insulation and a large outside heat source. Heat on more heat. I imagine the "flame" in the middle of the reaction is approaching low fusion temps. I guess around 8 grand F. I'll have to set up a cheap spectro to see one day.

I have found MgO works the best as far as heat resistance, liquid resistance and cleanness. But it's very hard to bind into a usable ceramic form.
I was wondering if anyone had any other suggestions. Thanks for the link.

[Ice Czar]

Originally Posted by J. Bennett

I know that there are a lot of complicated thermal dynamics going on.

nominated for an honorary doctorate of understatement

this may be of some interest
http://www.pat2pdf.org/patents/pat5152830.pdf (direct download)
thermite process for producing a metal or alloy (92)

a new thermite process with which the heat generated in the thermite reaction can be regulated by appropriately using cooling and exothermic agents at rates that can be controlled at each stage of the metallurgical reaction so that a high quality metal or alloy may be produced at a high yeild

In their first example they are employing quicklime (Calcium Oxide direct download again) as a flux\slag forming material and sodium chlorate as the exothermic agent (oxidizing agent commonly employed in oxygen candles)


Id check all the chemical reactions of course but a layered charging system might be just the ticket

Good luck

ps attempting to order sodium chlorate would likely attract attention

[ThomasPowers]

Jerry, while reading "Steelmaking Before Bessemer" vol II Crucible Steel, there was a reference to making Magnesia blocks by mixing it with something and heating. I'll try to dig up the exact reference for you this weekend.

[J. Bennett]

Id check all the chemical reactions of course but a layered charging system might be just the ticket

Good luck

ps attempting to order sodium chlorate would likely attract attention

Thanks. I ran across that while doing a patent search for my furnace

I've fooled around a little with the layered system, but it wasn't too complicated. It's good for adding carbon to make a certain alloy. My furnace is more mechanical, as it utilizes "drop mixing" and the slag is used as a "lid".

Jerry, while reading "Steelmaking Before Bessemer" vol II Crucible Steel, there was a reference to making Magnesia blocks by mixing it with something and heating. I'll try to dig up the exact reference for you this weekend.

That would be awsome. Adell's listed the old timey stuff as "magnesia tar". Have no idea what it was, but it must have been some sort of carbon binder.

[Ice Czar]

old timey ehh....


Refractories and Furnaces 1912 PDF or full view google books)

page 93 The manufacture of Grecian Magnesia Bricks

various binders including tar

also page 96 Mortars

doesn't reveal much more
"ordinary mortars used consist of 90 per cent fine magnesia and 10 per cent tar; "

and all full view books in category
subject:"Refractory materials" - Google Book Search

[J. Bennett]

Thanks!
I'll be printing that out for my library
Wish I would have found this forum earlier.