Study of thermal shock resistance of fired and unfired zirconia refractories

Conclusions Comparative studies were made of fired and unfired refractories based on zirconium dioxide. The fired refractories are more resistant to cracking. However, the unfired materials possess a higher resistance to the development of cracking which is noted during the registration of surface deformations in the process of destruction of the specimen; and this is confirmed by analytical criterial evaluation.The determination of the destructive drop in temperatures before the development of the first crack in specimens based on granular bodies should not be considered as a reliable evaluation of the thermal shock resistance of the refractories.A new method was developed for observing the nature of the failure in specimens during thermal loading.Translated from Ogneupory No. 1, pp. 52–56, January, 1973.