Effect of glass melt on corrosion of the lining of an industrial glass furnace

In this work a study of the influence of the glass melt on durability of the refractories used as lining in a furnace of the Greek flat glass industry is presented. Exact compounds formed especially in the lining as well as the maximum depth are observed and determined. This study shows that after five years' continuous running of the furnace a permanent change in the structure of the refractories occurs, reaching a depth of about 4-5 cm from the internal side of the furnace. The type and magnitude of this change depends on the site within the furnace from which samples have been taken. The corrosion depth due to the Na + and K + is greater than that due to Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ . The most intense corrosion appears at the sidewall refractories of the charging and discharging end of the furnace as well as at the glass air interface refractories.