Mineralogical and Physical–Chemical Characterization of a Bauxite Ore from Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil, for Refractory Production

Abstract

Abstract Bauxite is widely used for refractory production owing to its high alumina content and high melting point. Brazil is one of the world's biggest producers of bauxite for refractory applications, and Santa Catarina State can be highlighted as one of the biggest reservoirs of bauxite ore. In spite of this fact, its chemical and mineralogical characteristics are not well known as well as its high temperature properties. The studied ore was completely characterized [chemical (X-ray fluroscence), thermal (differential thermal analysis), mineralogical (X-ray diffraction), and microscopic (optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy) analyses] and the results showed that the bauxite ore is suitable to be used as a raw material for refractory applications. Keywords: aluminabauxite oreceramicsoxidesrefractory