Production of porous silica by the combustion of rice husk ash for tundish lining

In order to study the production of porous silica compacts by the combustion of rice husk ash (RHA) for tundish lining, the experimental design technique was used to evaluate the effect of firing temperature, soaking time and compaction pressure on controlling both the porosity degree and compressive strength of rice husk ash compacts. The results revealed that while the porosity degree of the compacts decreased with the increase in the entire studied parameters, the compressive strength exhibited another trend especially at a lower soaking time. At a lower soaking time, the increase in firing temperature led to a slight decrease in compressive strength and then increasing thereafter. The porous silica compacts having 30% porosity and > 2.5 MPa compressive strength suitable for tundish lining could be obtained from the combustion of rice husk ash compacts. (C) 2008 University of Science and Technology Beijing. All rights reserved.