Effect of h-BN rods on high-temperature properties of alumina–carbon refractory

h-BN rods modified low-carbon alumina–carbon (Al₂O₃–C) refractories were prepared, and the effect of h-BN rod addition on the high-temperature properties was investigated and compared with commercial h-BN flake, carbon black, and carbon nanotubes additives. The results demonstrated that Al₂O₃–C refractories containing h-BN rods exhibited optimal high-temperature service performances, including 25% higher hot modulus of rupture, 21.3% higher thermal shock strength residual ratio, 20.9% lower in oxidation and 44.3% less in slag corrosion, compared to the counterpart specimens without additives. Moreover, benefiting from the synergistic enhancement of the rod-like h-BN and in-situ generated SiC whiskers, the high-temperature service performances of h-BN rods containing specimens outperformed counterpart specimens containing commercial h-BN flake, carbon black, and carbon nanotubes, respectively.