Abstract
Although alumina aggregates have been used as refractory aggregates due to the improved mechanical properties of refractories as a result of the low contraction of alumina aggregates, the aggregates have a difficulty in fabrication due to its low sinterability. Two types of alumina aggregates and a fused alumina aggregate containing transient liquid forming additives are prepared to investigate the sintering characteristics of aggregates. $Al_2O_3$rich composition in the $Al_2O_3$-MgO-$SiO_2$(-$TiO_2$) system is chosen for the transient liquid phase sintering and the final recrystallized bonding phase between grains inside the fused alumina aggregates is found to be a needle-like mullite phase. The flexural strength of alumina bars, reaction-bonded using the paste having a composition of $Al_2O_3$-MgO-$SiO_2$-$TiO_2$, is about 78 MPa, which is one half value of that of pure alumina.
