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The role of MgO in the thermal behavior of MgO–silica fume pastes

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Abstract

The compounds of MgO–silica fume (SF) pastes constitute magnesium silicate hydrate (M–S–H) in a new generation of basic castables. However, Mg(OH)2 is a common reaction product with the formation of M–S–H. This study aims to reduce the formation of Mg(OH)2 in MgO–SF pastes. In this study, MgO powders were prepared by calcining magnesite at different temperatures and then mixed with SF and water to prepare MgO–SF pastes. The properties of MgO powders were characterized, and the pH values in the pore solutions of MgO–SF pastes were measured. The MgO–SF pastes cured for 90 days were calcined at 500, 700, 900 and 1200 °C, and the microstructure was characterized afterward. The results showed that both the reactivity of MgO powders and the pH value of the pore solution of MgO–SF pastes were diverse, which essentially depended on the grain sizes and the crystalline degree of MgO. Increasing the calcination temperature of MgO was beneficial to reduce the formation of Mg(OH)2 or even stop it when using MgO calcined at 1450 °C. Enstatite and forsterite formed for all MgO–SF pastes after calcination. However, the microstructure of MgO–SF paste with MgO calcined at 1450 °C was denser than others. MgO–SF pastes were suitable for the new-generation refractory castables. Notably, using MgO calcined at 1450 °C is more appropriate.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2016M590776), National High Technology Research and Development Program (“863 Program”, No. 2015AA034701), Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong (No. 2013A011401008) and Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51172075). Their financial supports are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangdong Research Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower, Guangzhou, 510635, People’s Republic of China

    Zhaoheng Li, Xiaowen Chen, Junlu Zhang & Yongmin Yang

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, People’s Republic of China

    Zhaoheng Li, Qijun Yu, Hao Liu, Jiyao Zhang, Yongmin Yang & Jiangxiong Wei

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  1. Zhaoheng Li
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  2. Qijun Yu
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  3. Xiaowen Chen
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  8. Jiangxiong Wei
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Correspondence to Jiangxiong Wei.

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Li, Z., Yu, Q., Chen, X. et al. The role of MgO in the thermal behavior of MgO–silica fume pastes. J Therm Anal Calorim 127, 1897–1909 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-016-5827-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-016-5827-6

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