[Stoves] Refractory cements for experiments

[Jigme Rangdrol]

Here is what I found on the available stuff for experiments.
Some of you asked me to let you know but I do not remember who you are.
One of you sent me a contact but I lost it, can you resend it please? 
Thanks.



I started with the list at:
http://www.anhrefractories.com/products/datasheetsv1.asp
and concentrated on the castables:

Castable Dense
      55% Al2O3, abrasion resistant, 2600F      LO-ABRADE Plus  
<http://www.anhrefractories.com/products/datasheetsv1.asp>
     60% Al2O3, conventional, 3000F      MIZZOU CASTABLE Plus 
<http://www.anhrefractories.com/products/datasheetsv1.asp>
     60% Al2O3, low cement, 3100F      VERSAFLOW 60 Plus
     60% Al2O3, low cement, thermal shock resistant, 3000F      
VERSAFLOW 57A
     60% Al2O3, low cement, thermal shock, alum resistant, 3000F      
GREENKLEEN-60 Plus
     70% Al2O3, conventional, 3200F      KRUZITE CASTABLE Plus 
<http://www.anhrefractories.com/products/datasheetsv1.asp>
     70% Al2O3, ultralow cement, 3100F      ULTRA-GREEN 70 Adtech
     80% Al2O3, phos bond, one-component, ram/cast/gun/hand pack      
EXCELERATE ABR Plus
     94% Al2O3, conventional, abrasion resistant, 3400F      
GREENCAST-94 Plus
     fireclay, coarse aggregate, thermal shock resistant, 2550F      
MC-25 Plus
     fireclay, conventional, 2800F      SUPER KAST-SET Plus
     fireclay, conventional, general purpose, 2550F      KS-4 Plus
     fireclay, conventional, low shrinkage, 2600F      KS-4V Plus
     fireclay, conventional, plaster, 2500F      KS-4T
     fireclay, portland cement, general purpose, 2200F      HYDROCRETE
     free-flowing, abrasion resistant, 3000F      EXPRESS-30 Plus
    
Castable Insulating
    1900F      KAST-O-LITE 19 L Plus
    2000F {formerly VSL 35}      KAST-O-LITE 20 Plus
    conventional, 2200F      KAST-O-LITE 22 Plus
    conventional, low iron, 2300F (formerly VSL-50)      KAST-O-LITE 23 
LI Plus
    economical, low iron, 2300F      GREENLITE 23 LI Plus DS
    high purity, bubble alumina, 3300F      KAST-O-LITE 97-L Plus
    high strength, 2500F      GREENLITE-45-L Plus
    high strength, 2800F      GREENLITE 75-28 Plus
    high strength, aluminum resistant, 2500F      GREENLITE-45-L AL Plus
    high strength, cast/gun/pump, 2200F      GREENLITE CASTABLE 22 Plus
    high strength, low iron, 2600F      KAST-O-LITE 26 LI Plus
    high strength, low iron, 3000F      KAST-O-LITE 30 LI Plus
    portland cement, 1600F      KAST-O-LITE 16 Plus 


I did not find a neat way to compare the insulation values of the 
different mix offers.



-----------------------------
The next best stuff I found was:

Refcast RKS castable refractory cement by Reno Refractories Inc.

Reftech division
Reno Refractories Inc.
P O Box 201
601 Reno Drive
Morris, AL 35116
Phone: 800-741-7366

http://www.renorefractories.com/contact.htm

These folks have a whole line of goodies and this one is used as the 
insulation material in foundry furnaces. They also have a very helpful 
tech who understands armature-ease.


The best price I found on Refcast was from:

Budget Casting Supply *
*60 East 40th Ave - Unit C
San Mateo, California 94403
Phone: 209-694-8601 
East Coast Fax: 419-710-9609
West Coast Fax: 209-396-3012 
Paul at BudgetCastingSupply.com <mailto:paul at budgetcastingsupply.com>

Also a great place full of goodies to try.


50# bags of Refcast 3000°F. were US$100  yielding 650 cubic inches


-------------------------------------------

The best all around deal was:

Kast-O-lite castable refractory cement by

A.P Green
I never was able to speak with them.
Their site is:
 A.P. Green <http://www.hwr.com/>
It lists sales offices all over the US.

I found their product at Budget Casting Supply
It is used as the insulation material in foundry furnaces also.

55# bags of Kast-O-lite 2600°F were US$90 yielding 1,105 cubic inches



-----------------------------------------------
I found the most readily available was the Rutland products, they have a 
good promotion and distribution set up.

Aleta M. Holden
Customer Service Correspondent
Rutland Products
800-544-1307 Ext 231
www.rutland.com
They said their products are "all 2200°F" so they are probably all a bit 
higher and more varied.

The premixed 3 gallon pails [Rutland #612] were US$50 yield 227 cubic 
inches but is made to be used 1/8 inch thick.
* The pails are what I sent back. It is actually a "sodium silicate 
based, alkaline fireclay, ready-mixed refractory mortar." Very nice, 
would be worth experimenting with admixtures but not meant to cast. 
Mortars are said to shrink by as much as 8% by the oven makers.*

The 25# bags of u-mix cement [Rutland #601] were US$30 yielding 180 
cubic inches.
Meant for blast furnace says the ad copy.

---------------------------------------------------
If you want to try Fireclay mixing this is a link to a gal who makes her 
own refractory cement and mortar from fireclay..
http://www.traditionaloven.com/tutorials/concrete.html

---------------------------------------------------
 I decided to cheat a little. I should have gone for the very best 
insulation value but I never found a good way to figure it out other 
than general guess work based on temp rate/density.

I cheated because:
I have a master mold maker due here in a few weeks and need stuff ready 
when he arrives.
The guy at Budget gives free shipping and that saves me at least US$35 
in gasoline plus a day off site. That makes the real cost less than the 
parts for me.
I only have 5 gallons of lime left and it is a pain for me to store so I 
dont want a whole new big bag and I still dont have any Dolomite to 
experiment with.
I am supposed to be working not futzzing with this stuff.
Just now guys from the Rez in POS Fords buying chemicals of any kind in 
the Big City get unwanted attention ;)

The down side to cheating of course is you have to use it all at one go.

Has anyone of you tried embedding Dolomite in the cast so it protrudes 
like warts? Do you think it would be worth the effort to facilitate 
turbulence?

If anyone finds better stuff or good mixes to try please post them.

J.R.