The substitution of calcium aluminate cement by hydratable aluminas in MgO-containing refractory castables can afford several benefits for these materials mechanical properties and refractoriness. Nevertheless, the way that hydratable aluminas affects MgO hydration and its consequences were not yet systemically explored. In the present work, four sources of magnesia and alumina were combined at different ratios and hydrated simultaneously. They were investigated by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and apparent volumetric expansion measurements. It was found that the magnesia/alumina ratio and the differences of reactivity of each raw material can greatly affect both hydration processes, generating different hydrated compounds. It was also verified that this combination can be suitably used as powerful MgO anti-hydration technique.
magnesium oxide; hydratable alumina; hydrotalcite; hydration
