UTILIZATION OF REFRACTORY RAW MATERIALS IN ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT

This project was initiated with the major objective of assessing the refractory raw materials of the country that can substitute similar imported minerals and mineral products that are used by local industries. Refractory raw materials refer to industrial minerals characterized by high resistance against high temperature and corrosion. These materials are particularly important for industrial processes that operate at a very high temperature and with corrosive chemicals.

The research involved three different raw materials tested for the same purpose: (Kaolin, Kyanite and dolomite/Magnesite). Samples of Koalin from Bomboweha, Kyanite from Chembi and dolomite/Magnesite from Kenticha areas (all in Sidamo) were assessed to determine their application as refractory raw materials by conducting mineralogical, chemical and basic refractory tests such as porosity, bulk density, water absorption, liner expansion and high temperature strength.

The Chemical, mineralogical and physico-Chemical properties so far determined indicate that the Bombwuha kaolin can be regarded as good quality refractory clay. It was also found out that the average chemical composition of the raw chembi kyanite (considering only the kyanite quartz schist) is about 27% which is comparable with their equivalents of other countries. The Chemical and mineralogical parameters of dolomite /magnesite raw material so far determined encourage to conduct basic refractory property tests at higher temperature.

The refractory tests accomplished are at a temperature of 11000C. However, these tests have to be performed at higher temperatures ranging from 1300-16000C to evaluate the final usability of the raw materials. But tests at as high temperature range could not be done locally due to lack of laboratory facilities working at these temperatures. It is also recommended that most of the basic refractory tests which cannot be performed due to constraints of laboratory facilities such as refractoriness and resistance to spelling, abrasion, thermal shock and chemical attach resistance should be carried out on these raw materials.

Note: The final report is available at the Central Technical Library of the ESTC.

(Report 1994)

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