1st feed to kiln , page-70

"A rotary kiln, once lined with refractories, requires firing to cure the "cement" used to stick the refractories to the walls of the kiln.” Oh no!

“flyer69: the refractory lining of a rotary kiln is self-supporting and normally fixed without any mortar;

I am not sure where these quotes were sourced but from my experience the information in them is incorrect. The special type of cement (mortar) used to adhere refractory bricks in a rotary kiln is used to adhere the bricks to EACH OTHER even though they are not adhered to the steel shell of the kiln. This can easily be seen from any you tube video where workers are bricking a kiln.

Evidently whoever wrote the first quote (not Rminconsult) mistakenly assumed that since cement was being used it was being used to adhere bricks to the shell. No, the bricks are adhered to each other.

The second quote is wrong for the same reason. The fact is the bricks ARE FIXED WITH MORTAR to each other but not to the shell. That is how they are self-supporting. And, as I said anyone can watch several you tube videos on refractory bricking and see that cement is being used on every brick.

Boring as those details are there is a relevant point… I find doc’s explanation of firing the kiln to cure refractory most likely. The theory that the kilns are not being fired to cure refractory but for imminent production because there is no cement to cure seems unlikely to me. Perhaps, doc will comment again.

Another thought is that if a firing to cure refractory is a required step in commissioning and it hasn’t occurred until now obviously ore could not have been processed until now, making the TOL issuance a mute point up until now.

On the other hand Lynas may have been ready for some time and intends to cure the refractory and go right into production to avoid the possibility of damage inherent in bringing the kiln up to temp and taking it back down, something which is avoided whenever possible. I would not entirely discount the idea.

Whenever they fire it will be confirmed by someone on the ground, I’m sure. Heat will be escaping non-stop for a period of days. Anyone working in the plant or nearby observing could visually confirm it.

Hard to guess if such observation and report would be moderated as hearsay on HC. But HC insisting on information confirmation can be a good thing; hopefully we will have several sources. Even Lynas might say something about it, wouldn't that be nice?