Development and characterization of new ultralow cement cordierite mixes for production plates

This investigation was to develop an ultralow cement castable mix (ULCCM) to produce in a faster way a refractory cordierite structure with a better performance that the conventional cordierite plate made from a slurry mix. The manufacturing of cordierite plates, by this new ULCCM, today showed a very substantial reduction in green and fired breakages, the production productivity increases drastically and the performance of the new cordierite plates with different pottery producers was successful. For this investigation were designed 4 castable mixes with a new process and not traditional materials, from which their physical properties after fired at 1260°C were evaluated. The mineralogical analysis was performed by X-ray analysis, the morphology was observed by SEM and Glassy Phases was detected by IR.