Perlite + Homemade Sodium Silicate + Aluminium Oxide o.O

[Esteban Campestre Abejil]

I found these videos on youtube and I found interesting ask for your opinion.

All materials appear to be readily available: perlite, caustic soda, baby powder, plaster of paris (gypsum heated to 150 ° C), aluminum oxide abrasive (do not know this, but seems to be common).





What do you think? Can it be usefull?



Esteban.

[PNW Dave]

Based off of these same videos and a couple others, I recently made up a 1000ml batch of sodium silicate, using the Roebic 100% lye crystal drain cleaner but instead of the silica gel "beads" I used a "flower drying art" silica gel that is more the consistency of sand. I found it at Michael's craft store.

I plan to do a sample puck with the mix used in the video above. I already happened to have a new jar of the exact same Aluminum Oxide Abrasive, I just need the baby powder and plaster of Paris.

See my latest post in my thread linked below for descriptions of some other Sodium Silicate and Perlite test bricks I've already made-

donkey32.proboards.com/thread/1298/fireclay-perlite-barrier-furnace-cement

[Esteban Campestre Abejil]

Great experience, David! I'll follow your thread!

I'm trying to get some aluminium oxide in Chile (where I live), but it is not easy here.

Esteban.

[Deleted]

Aug 20, 2014 14:08:53 GMT -8 Esteban Campestre Abejil said:

I'm trying to get some aluminium oxide in Chile (where I live), but it is not easy here.

Fire clays like kaolin contain 40% or more chemically bound alumina (aluminium oxide).
There is hardly a need for additional alumina.

More alumina will have negligible effects on service temperature.
Alumina can be used to increase resistance against abrasion,
but it will also increase thermal conductivity.

Alumina in high purity has a higher thermal conductivity than some kinds of steel.

[Esteban Campestre Abejil]

Interesting, Karl. I take note.