Silicon oxide is the natural oxide most abundant in the Earth crust. It is high melting point, 1763ºC for pure oxide, and it is softening point closed to melting temperature, allow it is application as high performance refractory material. For this combination of low cost and high refractoriness, quartzite based refractories were widely applied for many years during the 60´s and 70´s of last century.
Steelmaking refining and allotropic tensions during heating hysteresis limited its application to some specialrefractory solutions. Today, only coke batteries as quartzite fired bricks and iron and steel foundry with coreless induction furnaces as dry mixes, have survived. Some other special applications like acid resistant castables are partially based in natural quartzites.
The best refractory solution is defined by the most cost effective selection of refractory recipe without transformation so if comply technical requirements, cost effectiveeness will be achieved.
Dear ijauregui, do you know more about silicon refractory bricks?
Refractory clay and silicon oxide, which is more economical?