Experimental evaluation of the luminescence performance of fired clay brick coated with SrAl2O4:Eu/Dy phosphor

This study evaluates the luminescence performance of fired clay bricks coated with SrAl₂O₄:Eu/Dy phosphor. To do so, SrAl₂O₄:Eu/Dy phosphor was first produced using the traditional solid-state reaction synthesis technique. The prepared phosphor was then used for coating fired clay bricks to analyze the luminescence performance via spectral analysis, decay characteristics, and microstructure of the bricks. The results reveal that excitation and emission spectra of the phosphor coated bricks range from 200 to 480 nm and 455 to 650 nm, respectively, suggesting that the phosphor coated bricks have the capacity of absorbing light with a wide range of wavelengths. The peak wavelength projected at 511 nm in the emission spectrum is achieved, which indicates 4f⁶5 d¹-4f⁷ transition of Europium (Eu²⁺). The repeated excitation and deexcitation of Eu²⁺ by using hole traps and trap levels offered by Dysprosium (Dy³⁺), exist between the ground and the excited state of Eu²⁺ leads to luminescent phenomenon. Moreover, the decay characteristics has revealed that phosphor coated bricks can emit light for a considerable amount of time (>8.5 min) upon the removal of the excitation source. The results reveal that phosphor coated bricks has the potential of increasing energy efficiency of residential and commercial buildings.     

Performance of BaZrO3/Y2O3 dual-phase refractory applied to TiAl alloy melting

Vacuum induction melting is a potential process for the preparation of TiAl alloys with good homogeneity and low cost. But the crucial problem is a selection of high stability refractory. In this study, a BaZrO₃/Y₂O₃ dual-phase refractory was prepared and its performance for melting TiAl alloys was studied and compared with that of a Y₂O₃ refractory. The results showed the dual-phase refractory consisted of BaZr_1-xY_xO_3-δ and Y₂O₃(ZrO₂), exhibited a thinner interaction layer (30 μm) than the Y₂O₃ refractory (90 μm) after melting the TiAl alloy. Although the TiAl alloys melted in the dual-phase and Y₂O₃ refractory exhibited similar oxygen contamination (<0.1 wt%), the alloy melted in the dual-phase refractory had smaller Y₂O₃ inclusion content and size than that in the Y₂O₃ refractory, indicating that the dual-phase refractory exhibited a better melting performance than the Y₂O₃ refractory. This study provides insights into the process of designing highly stable refractory for melting TiAl alloys.     

Degradation mechanism of high alumina refractory bricks by reaction with deposits in a rotary kiln for fluxed iron ore pellets production

The formed deposits wear out of refractory wall linings in the rotary kiln and may cause production disturbances. This study describes the chemical composition and mineralogical phase components at the deposit/refractory interface in the rotary kiln for fluxed iron ore pellets production. The main phases of refractory bricks are corundum and mullite, while the deposits mainly contain hematite and silicates. The main phases in the deposit/refractory brick contact zone are hematite, anorthite (CaAl₂Si₂O₈), mullite, corundum, and silicates. Moreover, the hematite phases in the deposit/brick interface averagely contain 6.98 wt% Al and 1.38 wt% Ti. The silicates in the contact zone contain higher aluminium content and lower iron content than the silicates in the deposits. Finally, the thermodynamic analysis indicates that the main phases in the deposits can react with the refractory to form Al₂Fe₂O₆, CaAl₂Si₂O₈, feldspar, and liquid phases lead to the degradation of bricks in the kiln during the iron ore pellets production.     

Improvement in the properties of low carbon MgO-C refractories through the addition of graphite-SiC micro-composite

Graphite–SiC micro-composites have been prepared in–house by carbothermal reduction process. Controlling the process parameters including the weight ratio of SiO₂ to graphite as well as carbothermal reduction temperature during the micro-composite preparation favors the homogeneous formation of SiC with preferred morphologies like ribbons and whiskers/fibers. The micro-composite modified low carbon MgO-C refractories have exhibited significantly improved bulk properties over the standard composition. To understand the beneficial role of SiC reinforcement on hot strength performance under air oxidizing conditions, we propose a scaling parameter known as strength factor (fs) based on the ratio of hot strength (HMOR) to cold strength (CCS). Correlating the strength factor data (fs) with oxidative damage provides new insights into the reinforcing effects of distinct SiC morphologies in this new class of micro-composite fortified refractory systems over the standard compositions.     

The Art of Masonry

Brick masonry is not only a question of building physics, building construction and durability, i.e. sustainability, but has much to do with aesthetics and making sense, which may have been forgotten in modern architecture with its absolute lack of décor. Masonry as an art form has been scarce since the era of brick expressionism. Recently, there have been some exceptions – and thoroughly welcome. The ”Fjordenhus“ in Vejle, Denmark, is an astonishing example.     

Research on slag-resistance of ZrN-SiAlON-SiC-C composite refractory in different atmospheres

The ZrN-SiAlON composite powder was synthesized using low-grade zircon and bauxite by carbothermal reduction nitridation at first and then ZrN-SiAlON-SiC-C composite refractory were fabricated with the ZrN-SiAlON powder, SiC particles, and a small amount of Si powder as raw materials and sucrose as the binder. The slag resistance of these composites in O₂, N₂ and Ar atmosphere was investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersion spectra. The results show that the pores in the inside of ZrN-SiAlON-SiC-C composite refractory were enlarged in oxygen atmosphere due to oxidation, which leads to the decrease in slag resistance. In argon atmosphere, blast furnace slag destroyed the sintered body of zircon, corundum, and cristobalite with the formation of CaZrO₃, then infiltrated into and filled the pores inside the refractory to form a dense layer, which hindered the further erosion of the blast furnace slag. In the reducing atmosphere, the interfacial energy of the gas-liquid phases became larger due to the reactions between blast furnace slag liquid and the gas, resulting in a larger wetting angle which prevented the erosion.     

带耐火衬里高温反应器密封锥结构的设计

耐火衬里及支撑结构设计的可靠性是保证高温反应器壳体温度小于设计温度的关键因素。针对耐火衬里结构失效导致反应器壳体温度超过设计温度的问题,提出了一种双金属焊接的密封锥结构。该结构具有支撑金属衬里的作用以及将耐火材料与金属衬里之间的膨胀空间分割成多个密闭空间以阻止高温气体的流动,进而提高隔热可靠性。采用ANSYS软件中APDL语言建立了密封锥连接结构的有限元模型,通过研究密封锥不同角度以及厚度对计算结果的影响,得出了密封锥的最佳结构参数,并满足ASME标准的应力强度评定要求。模拟结果可为此类高温反应器耐火衬里结构的设计提供参考依据。     

模铸用高铝质流钢砖的显微结构分析

选取市场上模铸用高铝质流钢砖与用后残砖作为研究对象,通过检测不同高铝质流钢砖的理化性能,对比其使用前后的显微结构变化,进一步探讨模铸过程中高铝质流钢砖的显微结构对钢铁产品质量的影响。结果表明:由于显气孔率较大、结构比较疏松、烧结不致密等特性,高铝质流钢砖在经受钢水冲刷时,钢水容易渗透至高铝质流钢砖内部,加速其损毁;其次,高铝质流钢砖与钢水发生物理化学反应后在其表面生成低熔点物,使钢水中产生夹杂物,影响钢铁产品的质量。     

Die Baugesellschaft Gebrüder Rank und ihre spanischen Ziegelgewölbe in München

The Rank construction company and the introduction of brick vaults in Munich after 1945 The construction of vaults without scaffolding with thin bricks has a centuries‐old tradition, particularly in Spain and Italy. Since the beginning of the 19^th century, it has been successfully spread mainly on the American double continent. The Rank Brothers construction company in Munich is known to date as one of those construction companies that began building with concrete in its home city very early on. New investigations, which were made possible above all by the provision of archive material by Paul Basiner, now point to an additional focus of this company's work. The architects and engineers of the company had been also able to familiarise themselves with this traditional Spanish brick‐vaulted construction method via the branch office in Spain, which was established from 1911 on. This knowledge was particularly in demand in the years following World War II, when the destroyed vaults had to be rebuilt with simple means and low material consumption. Together with Carl Sattler, who had become acquainted with similar construction methods in Italy, brick vaults were initially used to complete the construction of the Landeszentralbank in Munich. In the following years, Rank was able to provide many buildings in and around Munich with brick vaults. It was not until the 1960s that this construction technique went out of fashion and was thus somewhat forgotten.     

Experimental and numerical study on compressive performance of perforated brick masonry after fire exposure

This paper discusses the compressive performance of perforated brick masonry after fire exposure. Compressive strength tests of the mortar, clay perforated brick, and perforated brick masonry specimens were performed in accordance with ISO834 fire tests of different durations. The temperature distribution of the masonry materials and specimens was simulated using the finite element software ABAQUS, with the thermal parameters of masonry materials recommended by European standard Eurocode 6 and related literature. The compressive strength reduction factors of mortar and clay perforated brick exposed to different fire durations were calculated via the layered method suggested by European standard Eurocode 1. In addition, the compressive strength reduction factors after cooldown were obtained from the experimental data of the masonry materials, and by considering further reductions in the compressive strength after cooling from high temperatures. Experimental data of the masonry specimens were compared with the numerical results obtained using the reduction factors proposed in this work. The comparison revealed an overall acceptable approximation. Thus, the method presented in this paper can be used to evaluate the residual capacity of masonry structures after fire.