Potentials of graphite as a material for the production of crucibles

Abstract

This study looked into the use of graphite as a material for making crucibles using the clay slip casting process. The investigation included determining the chemical compositions of graphite samples sourced from Sama Borkono in the Warji local government area of Bauchi State, processing the graphite into crucibles using the slip casting technique, and determining the physical properties of the crucible using ASTM standard methods such as shrinkage, porosity, refractoriness, shock resistance, and heat conductivity. The graphite sample's chemical analysis revealed that the beneficiated graphite has a sufficient amount of carbon content (80 to 85 percent) for crucible manufacturing. The percentage shrinkage of the samples ranged from 2% to 7%, according to the shrinkage tests performed on them. Thermal shock testing revealed that all of the samples could tolerate rapid temperature changes when subjected to various temperatures. The samples' refractoriness test revealed that all of the samples can tolerate temperatures of more than 12000 °C. According to the conductivity test, sample B had a decent heat conductance of 1.49 W/mK. Following the tests, sample "B" was discovered to meet all of the requirements for graphite crucible manufacture (high refractoriness, high conductivity, good thermal shock resistance, low shrinkage, and low porosity). A brass crucible was melted to a temperature of 9270C to test the crucible. According to the findings of the study, non-ferrous metals with melting temperatures below 12000C can be melted in the crucible made from sample B.