Comparison of interactions of MgO-based refractories with Li-ion battery cathode materials during calcination

Abstract

To select refractory major ingredients of saggers for the calcination of Li-ion battery cathode Li(NixCoyMnz)O2 (LNCM) materials, interactions between MgO-based refractories, ie, magnesium aluminate (MgAl2O4) spinel, forsterite (2MgO·SiO2), and cordierite (2MgO·2Al2O3·5SiO2), and LNCM materials were compared respectively via refractory-LNCM precursor cylinder testing in lab-scale. The phase composition and microstructure evolution of the calcined cylinders were characterized and resulted in comprehensive understanding and comparing of degradation of the MgO-based refractories. The results reveal that cordierite is severely corroded, whereas magnesium-aluminate spinel reacts little with LNCM materials. Refractories contain both SiO2 and Al2O3 with a higher SiO2 level will suffer a more serious corrosion contacting with LNCM materials.