Why I stopped using silica ramming mix for small repairs

I used to grab silica ramming mix for every patch job around the furnace, but after a bad experience at our shop in Akron last March where it crumbled the second we fired up, I switched to a high-alumina castable. It costs about $40 more per 50-pound bag but handles rapid temperature changes way better. I would rather spend the extra money than redo a lining twice a week. Has anyone else had silica stuff fail on them at the worst time?

2 comments

2 Comments

stella9041mo ago

Read somewhere that silica ramming mix needs really slow, careful heat up or it'll spall every time. Sounds like your Akron batch got shocked too fast.

riley_coleman1mo ago

My buddy in Cleveland tried that slow heat up and his silica still crumbled like a saltine cracker.