Behavior of fireclay bricks used in ALUMAR open anode baking furnace fluewall during operation

The major cause of breakdown of anode baking furnace fluewalls is chemical corrosion, which leads to deterioration of the properties of the bricks. Subsequent deformation of the fluewalls occurs, and also extensive cracking of the lining is observed. The present work studies the major changes of the brick during the operation of the furnace, after 22, 60 and 90 cycles of baking; in two different regions: upper and lower. Due to excellent cleaning conditions of the butts, negligible amounts of fluorine were found in the bricks. The major contaminants found were carbon, sulfur and alkali compounds, all of them present in the anode baked during the process.