CHARACTERIZATION AND PRODUCTION OF AJASE – IPO CLAY IN KWARA STATE AS REFRACTORY MATERIALS FOR FURNACE LINING

M. Alagbe and F. F. Ihogbetin

Department of Metallurgical Engineering

Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Nigeria

E-mail: alagbemic@yahoo.com, amenosahon@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Characterization and physical production of Ajase – Ipo clay in Kwara State as refractory material was carried out with a view to determine its possible applications. Twenty-four different clay mixes were prepared to test for each property. The clay mixes were formed with clay, 5%ww sodium silicate and 5%ww tempering water addition. Prepared samples were heated to temperature of 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200 and 1300⁰C, soaked for 2 hours and allowed to cool to room temperature. Testing of properties such as gas permeability, apparent porosity, linear fired shrinkage, hot strength, baked strength, baked hardness and refractoriness were carried out on standard samples of these mixes. The experiment was carried out for both the local clay (Ajase-Ipo) and imported refractory materials (London and India). The result of the tests showed Ajase-Ipo clay mix has average values of 151ml/min gas permeability, 520KN/m² hot strength, 685KN/m² baked strength, 94.7BH baked hardness, 14.47% apparent porosity and 24% linear shrinkage at 1300^OC. These properties compared with clay materials used in local foundries for ferrous castings and could be a suitable replacement for those clay mixes in use at present.

Keywords: Characterization, production, clay, bond, furnace