The Testing of Tank Blocks

JSGT_1936_V20_T536_T547

The examination of the suitability of the three usual methods of glass attack, which employ molten glass as the attacking material (model tank, immersed rod, and floating body methods) for the determination of the probable behaviour of the tank block leads to the conclusion that the determination of the particular solution behaviour by these methods (which serve especially for the determination of insolubility) is only of value with regard to the consequences of solution for the brick material (solution profile and surface). The determination of the tendency to stone and cord formation is most unreliable and generally impracticable. Cord formation can be estimated by direct attack with molten glass. Stone formation can only be ascertained by an indirect method, in which the alteration in the Al₂O₃/SiO₂ ratio in the refractory material by the action of soda or sulphate melts, determined analytically, gives an idea of the probability of stones. Further factors involving the solution behaviour and particularly the formation of stones are the purely physical testing methods giving a quantitative idea of the structure of the tank block.

Otto Bartsch