A lightweight micro-closed-pore corundum composite refractory and a method preparing the same, wherein raw materials of the refractory comprise 95-99 parts by weight of -Al.sub.2O.sub.3 micro-powder and 1-5 parts by weight of dolomite clinker; and additives of the refractory comprise 2-15 parts by weight of nano alumina sol, 5-15 parts by weight of a carbohydrate polymer, and 30-50 parts by weight of an organic alcohol. and the lightweight micro-closed-pore corundum composite refractory is prepared by: mixing and wet grinding the raw materials and the additives to obtain a slurry; placing the slurry in a mold, keeping the mold at 15-25 C. for 6-12 hours and then keeping the mold at 60-90 C. for 6-12 hours, then demolding; drying a demolded green body at 110-200 C. for 24-36 hours, and keeping the green body at 1800-2000 C. for 2-5 hours. A method preparing a lightweight micro-closed-pore corundum composite refractory is also provided. The lightweight micro-closed-pore corundum composite refractory of the present invention has characteristics of low bulk density, small average pore size, high closed porosity, low thermal conductivity, strong thermal shock resistance, abrasion resistance and slag resistance.

In order to address the technical problem of allowing an unshaped refractory material using a spinel-containing alumina cement to provide further improved corrosion resistance and slag infiltration resistance while reducing the occurrence of crack/peeling, an unshaped refractory material is provided which comprises a refractory raw material mixture having a particle size of 8 mm or less, with the refractory raw material mixture having an alumina cement at least a part of which is a spinel-containing alumina cement, and, with respect to 100 mass % of the refractory raw material mixture, the alumina cement contains CaO in an amount of 0.5 to 2.5 mass %, and the spinel-containing alumina cement contains spinel in an amount of 3.5 to 10.5 mass %.

A method of fabricating an impregnated fiber assembly, the method including introducing a first suspension including a first powder of solid particles into an inside volume defined by an inside face of a first fiber texture of hollow shape placed in a mold, an outer face of the first fiber texture being present facing a wall of the mold; using a centrifugal force to impregnate the first fiber texture with the first suspension by rotating the mold; after impregnating the first texture, positioning a second fiber texture on the inside face of the first fiber texture to obtain a fiber assembly; introducing a second suspension including a second powder of solid particles into the inside volume after putting the second fiber texture into position; and using a centrifugal force to impregnate the second fiber texture with the second suspension by rotating the mold to obtain an impregnated fiber assembly.

A method of making a refractory article is provided. The method includes: a) mixing a binder system, a refractory charge, and a second colloidal binder to form an aqueous slurry; b) casting the aqueous slurry into a mold; c) subjecting the mold containing the aqueous slurry to a temperature that is lower than a slurry casting temperature for a time sufficient to form a green strength article; and d) firing the green strength article at a temperature of at least 450? C. for a time sufficient to achieve thermal homogeneity, thereby forming a refractory article. Refractory articles made in accordance with the method have a unique combination of pore structure and mechanical properties.

Disclosed is a hydraulically and chemically bonding refractory cement, which includes a caustic magnesia component having a BET specific surface area of at least 0.5 m.sup.2/g, and a carboxylic acid component, wherein the carboxylic acid component consists of at least one carboxylic acid that is only slightly water soluble and/or has a low dissolution rate in aqueous solutions, and which carboxylic acid component is capable of generating at least one soluble magnesium salt upon contact of the cement with water. Also disclosed is a corresponding refractory material containing the magnesia cement and to uses thereof for the manufacture of products useful in various industries.

Hydrophobic aggregates for use in refractory castables and gunning mixtures and methods of their preparation. The aggregates here are formed by crushing insulating fire brick and coating the resulting particles with a hydrophobic component. The hydrophobic component may be a polydimethylsiloxane having a terminal silanol group. As a result of the coating process, the coated aggregate has very low levels of alkalis. The aggregates may be used to form refractory castables that do not undergo substantial alkaline hydrolysis due to the reduced levels of alkalis. The castables made from these aggregates display superior physical properties, including lower water content, lower permanent linear change, high strength, and superior thermal conductivity/insulation properties, while at the same time possessing lower density and requiring less water to be used during castable formation. These improved properties also are observed in gunning mixtures formed from these aggregates.

A composition for applying to a honeycomb body includes a refractory filler, an organic binder, an inorganic binder, and a liquid vehicle, wherein the refractory filler, the particle size distribution of the refractory filler, the organic binder, and the inorganic binder are selected such that, when the composition is applied to plug a plurality of channels of the honeycomb body, the plug depth variability is reduced.

A composition for applying to a honeycomb body includes a refractory filler, an organic binder, an inorganic binder, and a liquid vehicle, wherein the refractory filler, the particle size distribution of the refractory filler, the organic binder, and the inorganic binder are selected such that, when the composition is applied to plug a plurality of channels of the honeycomb body, the plug depth variability is reduced.

The invention relates to a use of a refractory material for contact with a liquid metal or alloy, a method for the manufacture of an article made of said material, the article so obtained and a method of use of said article. The refractory material is obtained from a mixture comprising from 0 wt. % to 40 wt. % of aggregates and/or fmes of zirconia; from 10 wt. % to 50 wt. % of aggregates and/or fmes of alumina; and from 20 wt. % to 50 wt. % of aggregates and/or fines of mullite; formed into a desired shape and then subjected to a heating treatment at a temperature of from 750 C. to 1500 C.

A self-bonding refractory powder product for use in making a slurry for investment casting molds comprising a coarse refractory powder; a Nano-sized powder; and an organic polymer powder, wherein it does not require aqueous colloidal silica to produce slurries used to build investment casting molds. The Nano-sized powder comprises fumed alumina, boehmite, fumed silica, or fumed titanium oxide or combinations thereof. The coarse refractory powder comprises milled zircon, tabular alumina or fused alumina, fused silica, alumino-silicate, zirconia, and yttria or combinations thereof. The organic polymer powder comprises a cellulose-based material.