Thermal shock resistance of mullite–cordierite refractories

Abstract The effect of aggregate size on the strength degradation of mullite-cordierite specimens subjected to thermal shock has been studied. Strength degradation of shocked specimens is shown to depend on the aggregate size, on the preshock strength of sintered specimens, and on cordierite content. Retained strength after shocking increased in specimens prepared from small aggregates owing to the higher initial strength. These specimens contained lower cordierite content as a result of the increased dissociation of cordierite brought about by decreasing the aggregate size.