Overview
ISO 10060:1993 defines standardized test methods for dense, shaped refractory products containing residual carbon, where the non‑carbon portion is essentially sintered or fused doloma, magnesia, or mixtures of these. The standard specifies procedures to determine key physical properties before and after removal of volatile components by cokefaction (carbonization). It is intended for reliable evaluation of carbon‑bearing refractories used in high‑temperature industrial applications.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and definitions: covers tar‑bonded, resin‑bonded, tempered, and impregnated carbon‑containing refractories and related terms (cokéfaction, antioxydant).
- Cokefaction procedure:
- Use a refractory sheet metal enclosure filled with preheated metallurgical coke (25 mm layer) and fitted with a thermocouple and a 3 mm vent.
- Heat in a ventilated furnace to 1 000 °C (±10 °C), record when thermocouple reaches 980 °C, hold for specified times (typical 2 h), then cool in desiccator; precision balance to 0.2 g.
- Coke grain size, preheating and handling requirements are specified; avoid chimney effects; water‑sensitive materials have special preparation rules.
- Measurements and calculations:
- Determine loss on cokefaction (mass loss), residual carbon (RC) either by direct analytical methods (e.g., coulometric titration, infrared CO2 detection after combustion) or by loss‑on‑ignition methods (with restrictions).
- Calculate carbon yield (CV) from mass changes; note limitations where antioxidants or >1.5 % Fe2O3 are present.
- Physical tests before and after cokefaction:
- Apparent bulk density, open/total porosity (ISO 5017), gas permeability (ISO 8841).
- Compression strength at ambient temperature (ISO 10059‑1), modulus of rupture/flexural strength (ISO 5014).
- Mass variation on calcination (complete removal of carbon).
- Sampling and specimen preparation: cutting parallel to press direction, specified specimen dimensions (e.g., 50 mm cubes, 150×25×25 mm bars), drying and handling rules to avoid hydration or oxidation artifacts.
- Reporting: test report must identify the laboratory, date, ISO 10060 reference, method used for residual carbon determination and key measured values.
Applications and users
ISO 10060 is used for:
- Quality control and acceptance testing of carbon‑containing dense shaped refractories (bricks, blocks).
- R&D and material qualification for service in steelmaking, non‑ferrous metallurgy, glass, cement and other high‑temperature processes where carbon additions affect behaviour.
- Independent materials testing laboratories, refractory manufacturers, plant metallurgists, and specification engineers who require consistent, comparable data on density, porosity, permeability, strength and residual carbon.
Related standards
- ISO 5017 - Apparent bulk density and porosity
- ISO 8841 - Gas permeability for dense shaped refractories
- ISO 5014 - Modulus of rupture by flexure
- ISO 10059‑1 - Compression strength at ambient temperature
Keywords: ISO 10060, refractory test methods, carbon‑containing refractories, cokefaction, residual carbon, apparent density, porosity, permeability.
