CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF REFRACTORY PROPERTIES OF IGBETI DOLOMITE

Abstract

Any nation aspiring to be self reliance and become technologically dependent must be taken in sourcing and developing its local raw materials. For such a nation, substantial parts of her home grown research endeavors should be directed towards her industrial and technological needs. This is the idea behind this work titled “characterization and evaluation of refractory properties of Igbeti Dolomite”. Investigation reveal that Dolomite samples from Igbeti (Oyo State) is suitable for lining of furnace and kilos where the materials being melted requires basic environment and operating temperature is below 1778oC. This is consequent upon the fact that it’s chemical composition and refractory properties are within the acceptable standard range. The material was found to be basic as it contains high percentage of CaO and MgO. Refractoriness was found to be 1778OC, bulk density 2.84g/cm3, porosity of 19.28% and permeability of 88mm/s. The value of linear shrinkage was 0.2%, 23 cycles for thermal shock resistance and 650KN/cm2 for cold crushing strength. It is concluded that the refractory produced of Dolomite from Igbeti deposit is suitable for lining of steel making furnace where basic environment is required and operating temperature is below 1778OC.