Comprehensive Refractories Testing Services at Lucideon’s Refractories Testing Centre
Discover Lucideon's cutting-edge refractory testing services. As the UK's most comprehensive refractories testing facility, we support all manufacturers and users including those in ceramics, glass, aerospace, defence, energy, and more with advanced testing.
The leading refractory testing centre
Refractory materials play a critical role in industries that operate under extreme conditions, such as ceramics, glass, aerospace, defence, energy generation, and metal production. These materials must withstand high temperatures, corrosive environments, and mechanical stress, and to ensure they perform reliably, thorough testing is essential.
At Lucideon, we recognize the growing demands on refractories, especially with the introduction of new and innovative materials. That’s why we've invested nearly £3 million in expanding our facilities, now housing one off the most advanced refractory testing equipment. Our Refractories Testing Centre is your one-stop solution for comprehensive testing, helping manufacturers and end-users ensure their products meet the highest standards of durability and performance.
Why choose Lucideon for refractory testing?
Lucideon's testing facility stands out for its range and depth of services, including:
- Cold crushing strength (CCS) and modulus of rupture (MoR) testing: we test up to 2000kN under cold conditions and offer hot 3-point bend tests to determine the structural integrity of refractories under stress.
- Thermal conductivity testing: with the ability to measure thermal conductivity up to 1600°C (2912°F), we use multiple methods, including guarded hot plates and laser flash techniques, ensuring precise and accurate results.
- Dynamic corrosion testing: our adaptable corrosion testing simulates operating conditions up to 1700°C (3092°F) in various atmospheres, allowing for a thorough assessment of material behaviour under extreme conditions.
- Comprehensive characterization: after testing, we provide detailed characterization of materials, evaluating chemical, physical, and microstructural parameters to predict longevity and optimal applications.
Lucideon's expertise in material development
In addition to our testing services, Lucideon excels in developing new refractory materials. Our experts can take your material from concept to final product, ensuring it meets specific industry requirements. We offer:
- New materials development: tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of various industries, including aerospace, defence, and energy.
- Material characterization: post-testing evaluations that provide insights into how materials will perform under real-world conditions, such as varying temperatures and environments.
- Access to extreme test furnaces: located at our AMRICC facility, our furnaces can reach up to 3200°C (5792°F) in controlled atmospheres, including inert and vacuum conditions.
Who can benefit from Lucideon's refractory testing?
Our services are designed to support a wide range of industries, including:
- Refractory manufacturers: we help ensure your products meet industry standards and can handle the toughest environments.
- End-users of refractory products: gain confidence that the materials you rely on will perform optimally in critical applications.
- Ceramic, glass, and metal manufacturers: whether for production processes or finished products, our testing ensures your materials are ready for extreme conditions.
- Aerospace & defence: ensure materials meet the demanding specifications for high-temperature environments.
- Nuclear & energy generation: our testing ensures your refractories can withstand the challenges of energy production, from nuclear to renewable sources.
Leading innovation in refractory testing
With the most comprehensive testing capabilities Lucideon is at the forefront of refractory material innovation and testing. Whether you need standard testing or are exploring the development of new materials, our experts are here to help. Ensure your refractory materials meet the highest standards with Lucideon's state-of-the-art testing and material development services.
Additional services
Beyond testing, Lucideon offers consultancy services to help you optimize product and process performance. We can develop new materials tailored to specific applications and guide them from concept to a fully tested product.
Our extensive characterisation capabilities allow us to analyse materials post-testing or after exposure to various conditions, providing insights into the longevity and suitability of refractories for specific applications.
Within the state-of-the-art AMRICC facility, extreme testing environments e.g. 3200°C (5792°F), multiple atmospheres), and expert consultancy are available for ultra-high-performance materials development and testing.
An example is the use of the up to 100% hydrogen fired intermittent and tunnel kilns to understand how refractories withstand or react to hydrogen being used as a fuel.
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