Refractory Taggants for Material Identification During Reclaiming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recycling methods for refractory materials are inadequate in efficiently sorting and separating different types of refractory products, leading to contamination and reduced properties in new refractory products.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a taggant into the refractory material during manufacturing, which allows for identification and sorting of the material after its service life using a radiation source and detector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visual sorting is used to separate refractory materials, then manual or automatic sorting can be performed, but materials with similar appearance cannot be distinguished
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies fluorescent tagging where different refractory materials are tagged with specific fluorescent markers that emit distinct wavelengths when excited by UV light. This allows materials with identical visual appearance to be distinguished through their unique fluorescent signatures, directly resolving the identification accuracy problem while maintaining ease of automated sorting operation.
2Quantity of substance
If magnetic separation is used to remove magnetic materials, then iron and steel can be separated, but multiple refractory types cannot be separated from one another
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends sorting capability beyond magnetic separation by using fluorescent tagging that can distinguish between multiple non-magnetic refractory types (alumina, magnesia, doloma, etc.). Each refractory type receives a unique fluorescent marker, enabling versatile separation of all refractory materials regardless of magnetic properties, thus dramatically increasing system adaptability.
3Measurement precision
If LIBS sorting is used to analyze spent refractory products, then elemental composition can be determined, but raw material quality and grade cannot be identified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies fluorescent markers during the original manufacturing process, embedding identification information into the refractory materials before they are installed and used. This preliminary tagging ensures that when materials are later demolished and sorted, the fluorescent tags remain intact and provide immediate identification of both composition and raw material quality/grade, eliminating the information loss problem inherent in post-use analytical methods like LIBS.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate sorting and recycling of refractory materials, preventing contamination and maintaining the quality of new refractory products.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation source and detector are utilized to identify and sort the material
Data Source
AI summary
A refractory material for forming a refractory product includes a refractory component and a taggant having an amorphous or a crystalline solid dispersed within the refractory material. The taggant is configured to be distinguishable from the refractory component after heating of the refractory product between 300 degrees F. and 3500 degrees F. A method of reclaiming refractory material of a refractory lining constructed from different types of refractory products, the refractory lining having been subjected to temperatures in excess of 300 degrees F., includes demolishing the refractory lining to produce a mixture of refractory pieces of different types of refractory products. The mixture of refractory pieces is analyzed to detect the presence of one or more taggants, and the refractory pieces are sorted into groups based on the detected one or more taggants.