Fabrication of highly isotropic porous alumina refractory clinkers consisting of platelets using a gelatin-sol

Abstract

Porous alumina bodies are expected to find application as refractory materials to reduce energy consumption during the manufacture of inorganic products. The porosity of such bodies can be efficiently increased by using alumina platelets to form a so-called “house-of-cards” structure. This technique was employed in the present study, together with a gelatin-sol (as binder) and freeze-drying. The porosity, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity of a porous alumina body made in this manner and heat-treated at 1600°C were 80.2%, 1.7 MPa, and 0.94 W/m−1∙K−1, respectively. These physicochemical properties would allow this alumina to be used as a thermal insulation refractory clinker material.

Keywords

• porous alumina
• house-of-cards structure
• gelatin-sol
• compressive strength
• thermal conductivity