ANÁLISE SISTÊMICA PARA SELEÇÃO DE ISOLANTES TÉRMICOS NOS CADINHOS DE TRANSPORTE DE ALUMÍNIO LÍQUIDO

Abstract

The work discusses an aspect of the wheel casting process, specifically the comparison between two types of thermal insulators used in the crucible, a means of transporting the metal between the melting furnace and the injection molding machines. The thermal insulator is a ceramic material that covers the crucible next to the refractory concrete in order to reduce the heat exchange of the metal with the environment. We describe a field test using two types of insulators, the conventional one based on alumina and the microporous one. The microporous insulator has as its main characteristic its low thermal conductivity. This methodology aimed to demonstrate the best option in thermal insulation and its impacts on the production process. The test insulator compared to the conventional one is an innovative product in the market in terms of thermal insulation and refractory materials. The result found is discussed in three important factors. the loss of temperature during transport of the metal, the available volume of the crucible and the temperature of the cold face of the crucible.