Resistance parameters and water quench test as criteria of thermal shock behaviour of alumina based refractories

The materials investigated were five alumina based commercial refractories with different contents of Al₂ O₃ +TiO₂ from 28 to 78%. Thermal (k thermal conductivity, α coefficient of thermal expansion) and mechanical (E Young's modulus of elasticity, ν Poisson's ratio, σ_f flexural strength, σ_m mean strength, γ fracture surface energy) properties of the chosen materials were measured. The thermal shock stability of specimens was determined using a water quench test (JUS B. D.8.319). Fracture and damage resistance parameters were calculated using average values of the measured thermal and mechanical properties. Calculated resistance parameter values were compared with the results of water quench testing. Linear regression analysis showed that fracture (R and R′) and damage (R‴) parameters could be correlated with the results of the water quench test, with high values of the correlation coefficient.