Yi-bo Zhang, Hua-zhi Gu, Lv-ping Fu, Ao Huang, Mei-jie Zhang
Lightweight refractory materials with thermal insulation properties and erosion resistance are advantageous for high-temperature applications. Lightweight zirconia refractories were prepared using starch as a pore-forming agent, basic magnesium carbonate as a stabilizer, and nano-zirconia as an additive. The effects of the nano-zirconia content on the pore and thermal insulation properties of the lightweight zirconia refractories were investigated based on the porosity, phase composition, microstructure, and thermal conductivity. Nano-zirconia was shown to have a high surface energy, and its addition effectively increased the driving force for sintering, reduced the sintering temperature, and promoted the sintering reaction, thereby reducing the apparent porosity and improving the density of the prepared material. Owing to the superplasticity of nano-zirconia, the surface stress caused plastic deformation between particles, which increased the migration rate of grain boundaries and trapped more gas inside the material before it diffused to the surface, thereby enhancing the closed porosity of the material. The presence of closed pores could extend the thermal conduction path, decrease the conduction rate, and hinder the conduction effect to effectively reduce the thermal conductivity of the material. At a nano-zirconia content of 0.75 wt.%, the prepared lightweight zirconia had the highest closed porosity and the lowest thermal conductivity. The apparent porosity, closed porosity, and total porosity of the material were 2.8%, 7.0%, and 9.8%, respectively, and the thermal conductivity at 800 °C was 1.37 W m-1 K-1.
