Zr_1-xSn_xO₂ reinforced alumina-mullite refractory was manufactured by slip cast methods using SnO₂ as a sintering agent. SnO₂ had considerable influence in the enhanced reaction kinetics of zircon dissociation and subsequent reaction sintering of alumina and zircon. Presence of pro-eutectic transient Al₂O₃-SnO₂ liquid and SnO₂-SiO₂-ZrO₂ amorphous phases, enhanced densification and mullitisation through liquid phase sintering and, mitigated SnO₂ volatilisation by (Zr_1-xSn_x)O₂ solid-solution formation. Based on their morphology and aspect ratios, three types of mullite crystals, MI, MII and MIII, were evolved across the matrix microstructure. Characterization of the evolved microstructure revealed coalescence and grain growth of matrix alumina grains including the presence of an acicular tertiary MIII mullite which acts as both a reinforcement and bridging network of matrix to aggregate grains. SnO₂ had the effect of lowering the monoclinic – tetragonal phase transformation temperature. Hot flexural strength values remained nearly unchanged (±2%) compared with the AZS composition without SnO₂ doping.

Zr _1-x Sn _x O ₂增强氧化铝莫来石耐火材料是通过使用SnO ₂作为烧结剂的滑铸法制造的。SnO ₂对增强锆石解离的反应动力学以及随后的氧化铝和锆石的反应烧结具有重要影响。前共晶瞬态Al ₂ O ₃ -SnO ₂液体和SnO ₂ -SiO ₂ -ZrO ₂非晶相的存在，通过液相烧结增强了致密化和乳化作用，并且通过（Zr _1-x Sn _x）O减轻了SnO _2的挥发₂固溶体形成。根据它们的形态和长宽比，在整个基体组织中演化出三种类型的莫来石晶体，即MI，MII和MIII。演化的微结构的特征表明基质氧化铝晶粒的聚结和晶粒长大，包括存在针状三元莫来石莫来石，它既是基质的聚集体又是增强和桥接的网络。SnO ₂具有降低单斜晶-四方相转变温度的作用。与未掺杂SnO ₂的AZS组成相比，热弯曲强度值几乎保持不变（±2％）。