Designation: C417 −21
Standard Test Method for
Thermal Conductivity of Unfired Monolithic Refractories
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This standard is issued under the fixed designation C417; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method supplements Test Method C201, and
shall be used in conjunction with that test method for deter-
mining the thermal conductivity of unfired monolithic refrac-
tories.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
and are not considered standard.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
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C182 Test Method for Thermal Conductivity of Insulating
Firebrick
C201 Test Method for Thermal Conductivity of Refractories
C862 Practice for Preparing Refractory Concrete Specimens
by Casting
C1054 Practice for Pressing and Drying Refractory Plastic
and Ramming Mix Specimens
E220 Test Method for Calibration of Thermocouples By
Comparison Techniques
3. Significance and Use
3.1 The thermal conductivity of monolithic refractories is a
property required for selecting their thermal transmission
characteristics. Users select monolithic refractories to provide
specified conditions of heat loss and cold face temperature,
without exceeding the temperature limitation of the monolithic
refractory. This test method establishes placement of thermo-
couples and positioning of test specimens in the calorimeter.
3.2 This procedure must be used with Test Method C201
and requires a large thermal gradient and steady-state condi-
tions. The results are based upon a mean temperature.
3.3 The data from this test method are suitable for specifi-
cation acceptance, estimating heat loss and surface
temperature, and the design of multi-layer refractory construc-
tion.
3.4 The use of these data requires consideration of the actual
application environment and conditions.
4. Apparatus
4.1 The apparatus shall consist of that described in Test
Method C201, modified as in 4.2 of this test method, with the
addition of thermocouples and refractory fiber paper, as de-
scribed in Sections 6and 7.
4.2 The furnace shall be modified by drilling a nominal
3
⁄
8
-in. (10-mm) diameter hole (Fig. 1) through the insulating
firebrick in the furnace wall at each end of the center line of the
18-in. (456-mm) dimension of the furnace cavity. These holes
shall be positioned so that the length of the hole will be parallel
to the calorimeter surface and the bottom of the hole will
coincide with the surface of the calorimeter. Copper tubing
shall be placed within each hole so that a compressed air source
can be attached to one side and flexible leads to a flowmeter
can be attached to the other.
4.3 A compressed air supply and flowmeter for air.
5. Test Specimens
5.1 Castable Refractories—The test specimens may consist
of either a panel 18 by 13
1
⁄
2
by 2
1
⁄
2
in. (456 by 342 by 64 mm),
or an assembly of three straights 9 by 4
1
⁄
2
by 2
1
⁄
2
in. (228 by
114 by 64 mm) and six soaps 9 by 2
1
⁄
4
by 2
1
⁄
2
in. (228 by 57
by 64 mm). These specimens shall be prepared as in one of the
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This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C08 on
Refractoriesand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C08.02 on Thermal
Properties.
Current edition approved April 1, 2021. Published April 2021. Originally
approved in 1958. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as C417 – 05 (2015).
DOI: 10.1520/C0417-21.
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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