Potential of andalusite and alumina bricks to withstand against copper and Brass Slag

The resistance of andalusite and alumina bricks against the attack of copper and brass slag was investigated. To assess the potential applicability, the reactions between the prepared samples and corrosive materials were examined. Copper and/or slag were brought into contact with the sintered bricks at the working temperature of 1250 °C. The depth of the reaction zone, phase composition, and microstructure of the reacted regions were analyzed. The results showed that the penetration of reactants was significantly more limited in the andalusite-containing samples. This reduced penetration was attributed to the dissociation of andalusite and the associated reactions. Notably, the silica-rich phase formed as a result of andalusite dissociation created a dense matrix surrounding the reaction products, thereby restricting further penetration of the reactants. In addition, different reaction products were observed in the andalusite and alumina samples after exposure to slag.