RUL/CIC 421 - Refractoriness Under Load and Creep in Compression

Overview

The RUL/CIC 421 is an instrument for Refractoriness Under Load (RUL) and Creep in Compression (CIC) testing, with methods described in ISO 1893 (RUL) and ISO 3187 (CIC). A cylindrical test piece of Ø 50 mm and height 50 mm with a coaxial bore of 12.5 mm and plane, parallel end faces is used for the standard test configurations. The measuring unit comprises a console, furnace guide frame and a furnace (max. 1700B0C), a balance weight loading device (max. 1000 N) and a differential measuring system; the furnace is closed at the top and thermocouples control and determine the test piece temperature. Two model variants are specified: Model RUL/CIC 421 E/6 with temperature range RT to 1700B0C, 4 Super-Kanthal 1800 heating elements and static air test atmosphere with optional inert purge gas; and Model RUL/CIC 421 G/6 with temperature range RT to 1600B0C, 4 Super-Kanthal 1800 heating elements, Al2O3 protective tube, ability to evacuate up to 10-2 mbar, and static/dynamic air and inert gas atmospheres. The instrument supports optional gas-tight chambers for non-oxidizing atmospheres and measurements up to 1600B0C for carbon-containing materials. The RUL/CIC 421 is used to determine the temperature-dependent subsidence behavior of refractory products under a constant compressive load (RUL) and to record time-dependent deformation at a constant temperature for creep in compression (CIC). Typical testing applications explicitly listed for refractory testing with this instrument include election of material, characterization of new materials, prediction of service conditions, quality control of the process and the product, failure analysis and mathematical modeling for product improvements.