Polypropylene Fibers and their Effects on Processing Refractory Castables

Polymeric fibers are efficient drying additives for refractory castables as they can reduce the risks of explosion during the first heat-up. When fibers are melted, they increase permeability, enhancing the drying rate and reducing vapor pressure. Despite these benefits, adding fibers can induce mixing and pumping difficulties due to particle entanglement. In the present work, an analysis involving rheology, dynamic permeability, drying and explosion likelihood of polypropylene fiber containing castables is presented. An optimized condition (fiber content and geometry) to maximize the performance of fibers as drying additives and to prevent mixing drawbacks is also highlighted.