Brazilian refractory grade bauxite: A new alternative to refractories makers and users

Abstract

After two centuries of the discovery, we now know that there are several types of bauxites, in which mineralogy points to the most appropriate application. In the non-metallurgical industry, bauxites with refractory grades have been applied as raw materials in the production of high-alumina refractories for both shaped and unshaped. The increase in the cost of other sources of high-alumina raw materials has encouraged the refractory producers to find a more cost-effective substitute, such as refractory-grade calcined bauxites (RGB). Nowadays, concerns rise regarding the availability of RGB due to the continuous restrictions taking place in China, which has a 95% market share. This work presents a new RGB of high-alumina content (~85%) from a Brazilian source in which process enabled a technology with high refractoriness.