The superiority of spherical refractory aggregate

The good fluidity of spherical materials is well known,and it will be great useful in refractory castable and injection material,such as helping to eliminate dilatation,improve fluidity,and improve structural uniformity,etc.

The thermal insulation lining made of spherical lightweight aggregate has a higher strength than traditional porous lightweight materials because:

• The pores inside the aggregate are closed and will not cause stress concentration,making the strength of the spherical aggregate itself higher than that of the traditional lightweight aggregate;
• There are no sharp edges and corners on the surface of the spherical aggregate,and there will be no stress concentration at the aggregate-matrix interface to damage the bond between the aggregate and the matrix;
• In the thermal insulation lining made of spherical aggregates,the aggregates are tightly combined to increase the strength.This kind of airtight lining is especially suitable for equipment with high temperature,certain pressure,corrosive furnace gas and steam medium.

The advantages of spherical aggregates are not only suitable for castables, but also for shaped products. Spherical aggregates can first be used in occasions that require high fluidity, transportability, air tightness, and heat insulation. With the progress of aggregate engineering, especially the design and customization of the internal and surface of the aggregate, new aggregates will bring more diversified and superior properties to refractories, such as high temperature strength, thermal shock resistance, and flexibility , corrosion resistance, etc.

It is not difficult to predict that spherical aggregates will become a new generation of refractory aggregates instead of traditional aggregates. Its potential market is huge. In most refractory materials including shaped and amorphous, aggregates account for more than 60% .The global average annual consumption of refractory materials in the past ten years has been more than 38 million tons.