Several research studies have been conducted to investigate the dispersion of zero-cement high-alumina castables using Al2O31 and Al2O3-SiO22 compositions as well as more complex castables. In these studies, no cement or other hydraulic binders have been used to improve the refractoriness and the high temperature behaviour of these compositions. The absence of cement actually tends to simplify the evaluation of additives, because the mutable characteristics of this raw material, involving a continuous increase of the solution ionic strength and the precipitation of hydrate phases, represents an additional difficulty in dispersion studies. However, calcium aluminate cements remain the most widely used binding agents in industrial applications. To read the complete article please go to: www.ceramicbulletin.org
