Irkutsk National Research Technical University, Irkutsk, Russia

M. Yu. Kuzmina, Associate Professor, Associate Professor at the Department of Non-Ferrous Metallurgy, Candidate of Chemical Sciences, e-mail: kuzmina.my@yandex.ru
M. P. Kuzmin, Associate Professor, Associate Professor at the Department of Non-Ferrous Metallurgy, Candidate of Technical Sciences, e-mail: mike12008@yandex.ru

The paper presents the results of a study on improving the performance characteristics of aluminosilicate refractories used as foundry tooling in aluminum production. The main objective was to reduce the porosity and permeability of refractory materials to molten aluminum by introducing capillary-action waterproofing additives (WPA). The effect of waterproofing additives in amounts of 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 wt.% on the main physical and technical properties of the refractories was experimentally studied: apparent porosity, water absorption, bulk density, thermal resistance, heat capacity, hardness, and permanent linear change at high temperatures. It was found that the optimal WPA content is 4.0 wt.%, which reduces the apparent porosity by 10.4% and increases thermal resistance. The conducted technical and economic analysis confirmed the effectiveness of using the modified refractories, for which the investment payback period is 0.83 years with a profitability of 120%. The results of the work are recommended for implementation at aluminum industry enterprises to increase the durability of foundry tooling.

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