Objective
THE RESISTANCE TO EROSION OF GLASS-CERAMIC MATERIAL, COUPLED WITH THE FAVOURABLE TENSILE STRENGHT AND HARDNESS, MAKES THIS MATERIAL PARTICULARLY USEFUL FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS WHICH INVOLVE WEAR DUE TO EROSION.
CONVENTIONAL GLASS-CERAMICS ARE MADE BY COOLING A MELT TO THE GLASSY STATE AND THEN CRYSTALLISING IT IN A CONTROLLED MANNER BY REHEATING. IN THE USSR GLASS-CERAMICS ARE MADE IN THIS WAY, USING BLAST-FURNACE SLAG AS THE CHIEF CONSTITUENT.
IMPERIAL COLLEGE IS DEVELOPING A NOVEL PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A GLASS-CERAMIC MATERIAL ("SILCERAM") FROM MOLTEN BLAST-FURNACE SLAG BY HEAT TREATMENT. THIS INVOLVES DIRECT COOLING FROM THE MELT INSTEAD OF THE TWO-STAGE REHEATING TREATMENT FOR CONVENTIONAL GLASS-CERAMICS. THE NUCLEATION AND GROWTH OF CRYSTALS TAKE PLACE DURING A CONTROLLED COOLING FROM THE MELT, THUS AVOIDING THE REHEATING FROM COLD GLASS REQUIRED BY THE CONVENTIONAL PROCESS. IT ALSO SHORTENS THE HEAT TREATMENT TIME LEADING TO ADDITIONAL ENERGY SAVINGS.
A PILOT-PLANT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GLASS-CERAMIC CASTINGS HAS BEEN DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND COMMISSIONED. THIS CONSISTS OF AN OIL-FIRED TILTING TANK FURNACE CAPABLE OF MELTING 100 KG BATCHES, A HEAT TREATMENT KILN, CASTING AND MOULDING EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES FOR STORING RAW MATERIALS AND FINISHED PRODUCTS.
PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTY DETERMINATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE LABORATORY WITH THE NEW MATERIAL. THE VISCOSITY OF THE MOLTEN MIXTURE USED FOR "SILCERAM" PRODUCTION HAS BEEN DETERMINED AS A FUNCTION OF TEMPERATURE OVER A RANGE BETWEEN 1250 AND 1600 DEGREES C. THE DATA SHOW THAT THE MELT HAS ADEQUATE FLUIDITY AT 1450 DEGREES C, BUT HAS RAPIDLY INCREASING VISCOSITY AS THE TEMPERATURE FALLS TO THAT OF THE TREATMENT KILN (900 - 950 DEGREES C) WHICH IS NECESSARY IF THE SHAPE IS TO BE RETAINED DURING CRYSTALLISATION. (THE VISCOSITY AT 1350 DEGREES C IS 5.95 NSM EXP-2). THESE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE SHOWN THAT THE NEW MATERIAL IS ATTRACTIVE AS AN EROSION-RESISTANT CERAMIC FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS. IT COULD BE USED AS A LINING FOR CONVEYORS OR PIPES WHICH CARRY EROSIVE GAS-ENTRAINED SOLIDS. TESTS UNDER INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS (COMPARATIVE TESTS OF THIS KIND DEPEND UPON THE PREVAILING CONDITIONS, SUCH AS PARTICLE VELOCITY, SIZE AND NUMBER DENSITY AND ANGLE OF IMPACT) HAVE SHOWN THAT THE NEW MATERIAL ERODED 1.5 TO 3.5 TIMES SLOWER THAN CAST BALAST (A MATERIAL IMPORTED FROM OUTSIDE THE EEC WHICH CURRENTLY DOMINATES THE MARKET). SINCE THE COST PER TONNE IS CLOSE TO THAT OF CAST BALAST, THERE IS AN ADVANTAGE ON A COST PLUS PERFORMANCE BASIS.
A SERIES OF TRIALS HAS ENABLED THE BEST CONDITIONS FOR CASTING TO BE ESTABLISHED; THE PILOT PLANT WHICH WAS DESIGNED AND COMMISSIONED DURING THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN USED TO OPTIMISE MELTING, CASTING AND HEAT TREATMENT CONDITIONS. IF, HOWEVER, PRODUCTION IS TO BE CARRIED OUT IN AN INDUSTRIAL PROCESS, FURTHER INFORMATION ON MELT AND REFRACTORY BEHAVIOUR WOULD BE REQUIRED.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project has not yet been classified with EuroSciVoc.
Be the first one to suggest relevant scientific fields and help us improve our classification service
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Data not available
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Data not available
Coordinator
SW7 2BP London
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.