Effect of Temperature on the Friability of Silicon Carbide in the Cupola

Silicon carbide briquettes are frequently used as cupola charge material to fulfill the dual roles of a graphitizer and a source of carbon. During the descent from charging to the hearth, silicon carbide briquettes disintegrate and fines are generated. The fines are lost either to the flue gas or to the slag. This significantly decreases the efficiency of the silicon carbide additions. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand the effects of the cupola environment on the integrity of the briquettes. Samples of three industrial grades of silicon carbide briquettes were fired and ground in a jaw crusher to determine the influence of temperature and composition on friability. It was determined that the friability of the silicon carbide briquettes increased as the silicon carbide content decreased.