Elevation of the wear resistance of a graphite reactor designed for melting thermite charge

Abstract

In the process of manufacturing iron-aluminum alloys, the prospects of reducing the costs spent for the refractory and charge materials, as well as for the supply of thermal and electric energy are connected with the realization of the exothermal process of melting of the thermite charge, i.e., in fact, industrial wastes in the form of scale and metal shavings, in the reactor without applying traditional melting units. In view of the high temperature of formed melts, it seems reasonable to use carbon materials as refractories. The durability of the reactor strongly depends on the number of thermal cycles and the possibility of ensuring the mechanical strength and functionality of its elements subjected to the most aggressive thermal effects of the melts. As a result of a series of experiments, we determine the possibility of weakening of the thermal effect of iron–aluminum melts formed as a result of the exothermal reaction on the material of the graphite reactor by regulating the content of active aluminum. Moreover, we propose a version of measures connected with the possibility of updating the design of the graphite reactor aimed at increasing its service life.