Study of aluminium oxide from high-alumina refractory ceramics by thermoluminescence

Abstract

This work is focused on the study of the thermally stimulated blue emission of aluminium oxide (A1203) that has been removed from twenty different high alumina-rich refractory bricks. The glow curve sensitivity of several alumina grains are defined by (i) a maximum centred at about 165°C that can be deconvoluted into two first order kinetic peaks at 157 and 177°C and (ii) a broad structure over 200-220°C that suggests a continuous trap distribution system. The isolated grains, analysed by means of X-ray diffraction, are composed of 43% of alumina (A12O3), 22% of mullite [72% of A12O3 and 28% of Si02], 12% of leucite (KAISi206) and 23% of sillimanite [Al 203Si02]. The sample characterization has been performed using X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy.