Clay Bonded Graphite Crucible
Clay Bonded Graphite Crucible
Clay Bonded Graphite Crucible
Most crucibles used in the metals industry for melting, holding and/or transferring operations
are preformed vessels manufactured from carbonbonded silicon carbide or ceramicbonded
clay graphite.
Crucibles may be as small as teacups or may hold several tons of metal. They may be xed
in place within a furnace structure or may be designed to be removed from the furnace for
pouring at the end of each melt. Crucibles are used in gas and oilred furnaces, in electric
resistance furnaces and in induction furnaces. They come with or without pouring spouts and
in a wide variety of traditional and specialized shapes.
CRUCIBLE ADVANTAGES
With their unique ability to melt, hold and transfer metal using a single vessel and to allow
even incompatible alloy changes to be made simply by switching vessels, the operational
exibility of crucibles is unchallenged. However, even when xed within the furnace
structure, crucibles offer important advantages when compared to directly heated fuelred
furnaces and to electric resistance or induction furnaces with rammed refractory linings:
Lower Metal Loss / Cleaner Metal In fuel-red furnaces where the metal is heated
directly by a ame produced by gas or oil burners, there are both high levels of metal
loss and increased oxidation due to the combustion products generated. In fuelred
crucibles furnaces, however, the ame is isolated from the metal and the metal is
heated indirectly with heat conducted through the crucible. This indirect heating
greatly reduces metal loss and metal oxidation, resulting in lower metal purchase
costs, lower energy costs per pound of metal poured and less slag or dross formation.
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Submitted for publication by the AFS/ASM Association in the upcoming Metals Handbook
(continued)
modern crucibles are vastly superior to those in use just a short time ago. Designed for a
wide range of traditional applications and new processes, todays crucibles are formed using
a wide variety of materials and processes that impart specic characteristics, capabilities and
limitations to each of the many types of crucibles available from crucible manufacturers.
Determining what properties your application requires of a crucible is the most important
step in selecting the proper crucible to meet your needs.
For additional information on Morgan Molten Metal Systems products or to nd a location nearest to you,
please visit:
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(continued)
Thermal conductivity Not all crucibles offer the same level of heat transfer
through the crucible and into the metal. To achieve the lowest energy costs, you
should select the crucible with the highest level of thermal conductivity that meets
all of the other requirements of your application.
Crucibles have been called the rst composites and modern crucibles use a carefully balanced
combination of materials to achieve the important characteristics listed here.
Silicon Carbide A foundry crucible typically will contain 10% to 50% of silicon
carbide, based on the desired characteristics. Silicon carbide provides excellent
resistance to high temperature erosion and corrosion and imparts a high level of
thermal conductivity to the crucible.
Silicon Metal Fine powders of silicon metal or alloys are used to increase strength
and erosion resistance, to protect the graphite and carbon bonding matrix from
oxygen and to help ensure an even glaze coating.
There is not a single crucible material recipe or manufacturing process that offers the highest
level of every desirable characteristic for every application. Therefore, your best course will
be to prioritize the list of crucible properties most important for your application and review
those requirements with your crucible provider to nd the crucible product best suited to
your needs.
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please visit:
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Thermal Shock Structural damage may be caused by too rapid heating or cooling
of the crucible. Uneven heating or frequent thermal cycling between cold and hot can
also result in crucible damage.
Mechanical Shock Damage caused to the crucible by the impact of charge materials
and/or, in the case of removable crucibles, by impacts during movement.
Damage to Crucible Glazes Crucible glazes serve as a barrier against oxygen attack
of the carbon material making up the crucible. These glazes may be damaged by
any of the previously noted hazards and such damage will lead to a reduction in
crucible life.
Crucibles must be thoroughly inspected for shipping damage when received. If cracked,
chipped or otherwise damaged, they must not be installed. Crucibles should be stored
inside in a warm and dry environment and must be completely dry before use. All claygraphite crucibles must be properly annealed before being subjected to the rst full
heat. This will help the crucibles withstand thermal shock throughout their service life. All
crucibles should be preheated using the recommended procedure whenever entering use
from a cold, i.e., room temperature, condition. During operations, the crucible should be
inspected for damage after each heat and slag or dross buildup inside the crucible must
be removed. Damaged or worn crucibles must be replaced immediately.
Select the right crucible for your application, install it properly, operate it within its design
parameters, protect it from physical and thermal damage and replace it immediately
when damaged or worn. Follow these rules and your crucibles will provide excellent
service, operational efciencies and signicant economies.
For additional information on Morgan Molten Metal Systems products or to nd a location nearest to you,
please visit:
www.morganmms.com