Crucible lining cracked mid-pour on a 200 lb bronze melt yesterday

I was running a batch of silicon bronze around 1100C and heard a pop, then saw a hairline crack running down the side of the crucible. I shut the furnace off, let it cool slow, and now I'm trying to figure out if I can patch it with refractory cement or if I need to just bite the bullet and buy a new one. Has anyone had luck repairing a cracked crucible liner without it failing again?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_abby1d ago

Oh man, that sinking feeling when you hear that pop mid-pour is the worst. I've been there with a 150 pound manganese bronze batch a few years back, and my heart just dropped straight into my shoes. I tried the refractory cement patch route once on a similar crack, and it held for about three pours before it let go on me during a really critical job. Honestly, for the stress and the risk of a blowout on a 200 pound melt, I'd just eat the cost and get a new liner. It's not worth the cleanup or the safety headache if that patch fails again.

perez.thea1d ago

Not worth the cleanup if that patch fails" is the line that got me. Because when that patch lets go, it's not just a mess, it's a puddle of 200 pounds of liquid metal on your floor. I'd say cut your losses now and get the new liner. That cleanup cost alone will eat up whatever you saved trying to patch it. Better safe than sorry with that much bronze.