Corrosion of AZS Refractories ‐ Source of Defects in Tableware Glass

Abstract

The relationship between the composition of defects present at tableware glass products and a glass phase of the Alumina Zirconia Silicate (AZS) refractory material is studied. The refractory samples have been taken from the working and melting parts of a furnace after production termination as well as from the material where the laboratory static corrosion tests have been conducted. The concentration profiles of oxides, present in the AZS refractory glass phase, were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis. Samples of the final products containing different types of inhomogeneities were collected during regular production in a period of 48 months and analyzed. To identify potential sources of defects, the results of this refractory corrosion study were compared with the composition of defects present in the final products of tableware glass production.

Structural evolution of high zirconia aluminosilicate glasses

“…Consistent with these predictions, no crystals containing zirconium, such as zirconia or zircon, have been found. However, the appearance of zirconium-carrying crystals in this composition domain is well known from glass manufacturers who can occasionally find them in the form of millimeter defects on the finished products [34,35]. Interactions in industrial compositions are much more complex than in our simple model due to more complex compositions and the much longer and variable thermal cycles in the glass melting furnace.…”