A new laboratory corrosion test for glass contact refractories has been developed in an attempt to improve prediction of refractor wear. In developing this rotating sample test, a "cold model" was used to simulate at room temperature conditions found in the hot test. This made possible the visualisation of fluid flows, and the study of some phenomena which were potential causes of problems in the hot test. The hot corrosion test apparatus was used in performing a series of tests at 1400 deg C, mainly on fusion cast alumina samples, over a range of rotation speeds and test times. Some agreement with the Cochran-Levich theory of convective diffusion from the surface of a rotting disc was obtained for the samples over the middle range or rotation speeds used. Results obtained suggest that it may be possible to use the new rotating test to gain further insight into the glass flow rates that occur in flux line corrosion, and a dynamic test such as this could provide useful data regarding corrosion below the flux line due to fast glass flows, which is important near electrodes.
