Effect of In Situ Mg-Sialon on the Oxidation Behavior of Low-Carbon MgO-C Refractories

The in situ Mg-sialon in low-carbon MgO-C refractories was studied with respect to its oxidation behavior and mechanism at 1500 °C. The results indicated that the oxidation index and rate constant of low-carbon MgO-C refractories with Mg-sialon were 26.2% and 0.51 × 10(−3) cm(2)/min at 1500 °C for 2 h, respectively. The formation of a dense MgO-Mg(2)SiO(4)-MgAl(2)O(4) protective layer contributed to considerable oxidation resistance, and the generation of this thicker layer was due to the combined volume effect of Mg(2)SiO(4) and MgAl(2)O(4). The reduced porosity and more complex pore structure were also found in the refractories with Mg-sialon. Therefore, further oxidation was restricted as the oxygen diffusion path was effectively blocked. This work proves the potential application of Mg-sialon in improving the oxidation resistance of low-carbon MgO-C refractories.