The service life of well-designed thermal processing plants is more than 30 years, although the refractory materials used have to be replaced more frequently, thereby reducing the carbon footprint and cost efficiency. If the refractory materials fail prematurely, major damage can occur. Precise requirements for the furnace materials based on furnace models and knowledge of the thermomechanical properties and failure behavior of the materials make it possible to avoid accidents and extend maintenance cycles.
In this sub-project, methods were to be developed with which the probability of failure of refractory materials can be predicted on the basis of their microstructure. Strategies for improving future refractory materials were to be derived from this. In addition, experimental methods were to be developed with which the ageing of refractory materials can be investigated under controlled conditions. Finally, measurement methods were to be developed in the process for recording high-temperature material data, as required as input for the simulation models in subprojects 1 and 3.