Investigation into the utilization of Chaibassa Magnesite talc rock for the production of Forsterite Refractories

Abstract

Study of MgO-SiO2 system has revealed that the only magnesium silicate compound stable at high temperatures (above 1543° c) is forsterite. All combinations of magnesia and silica therefore have to be converted to forsterite before they can be used as refractory materials. Relatively pure forsterite has not been much used in the past primarily for the reason that it is not available in nature in quantity and quality. Attempts have therefore been made to use rocks like dunite, serpentine, etc. which are associated with low melting compounds that have to be converted to high melting ones for refractory applications.