We have developed a new line of castables that use colloidal silica as a binder. In comparison to the traditional alternative, cement, colloidal silica improves the material’s drying capability, which saves energy and allows for quicker commissioning. In addition to this, the carbon footprint of colloidal silica is 40% smaller than that of cement.

We recommend the Colloidal Silica product line particularly for castable items from which the controlled reduction of moisture is difficult due to their thickness or structure. The drying process can also be carried out using burners designed for use on brick lining. 

We have conducted extensive research into the properties of our new products by test-drying 500-kilogram cubes of different compositions at different drying rates. We have observed that it is possible to dry these large items in less than twelve hours, while for a castable item of similar size that utilised cement as a binder, the drying process would take several days. We will present our drying-related research entitled “Observations on the strength and drying performance of SolCast castables” this September at the Unitecr 2023 conference, which is the world’s largest conference focusing on refractories.

The cube featured in the image, which is made of Picant 260 SC and contains chamotte and bauxite, was dried in less than twelve hours without sustaining any damage. In addition to its drying capability, the advantages of Picant 260 SC include high heat resistance and excellent volume stability. 

Please contact us to learn more about colloidal silica or our new product line!