BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention The invention concerns a gasifier reactor internal coating.

Description of the prior art

There is known in the art in particular a gasifier used to gasify coal. The coal gasification process, that has been known in the art for around fifty years, is currently experiencing strong growth because it can be used, starting from highly diverse hydrocarbon materials, for example coal, petroleum coke, and even heavy oils to be recycled, to produce synthesis gases serving as an energy source and as basic compounds for the chemical industry. This process also eliminates unwanted components, for example NOx, sulfur or mercury, before discharge into the atmosphere. The principle of gasification consists in controlled partial combustion, under pressure and in a steam or oxygen atmosphere, at a temperature from approximately

1000 ⁰ C to approximately 1600 ⁰ C.

There exist different types of reactor, known as "gasifiers", with fixed, fluidized or driven beds. These reactors differ in the mode of introduction of the reactants, the manner in which the fuel and the oxidizer are mixed, the temperature and pressure conditions, and the method of evacuating liquid residual slag or ash resulting from the reaction.

The article "Refractories for Gasification" published in the journal

"Refractories Applications and News", Volume 8, Number 4, July-August 2003, written by Wade Taber of the Energy Systems department of the Saint-Gobain

Industrial Ceramics Division, describes the structure of a gasifier internal coating. The gasifier is coated with various layers of refractory products capable of withstanding the conditions of temperature, pressure and chemical environment to which they are subjected during gasification. The layers of refractory products thus protect the metal interior wall of the gasifier from heat and from corrosion by gases and slag.

The refractory product at the hot face is more particularly subjected to erosion and chemical attack by ash or slag, which leads to the infiltration of compounds from the liquefied ash or slag into the pores of the refractory product. As a result of erosion and thermal cycling, this infiltration can cause spalling of the coating, and finally to shutting down of the reactor.

To increase the service life of refractory coatings, researchers have attempted to increase their thickness. However, this solution has the drawback of reducing the usable volume of the gasifier and therefore its yield. James P. Bennett, in the article "Refractory liner used in slagging gasifiers" published in the journal "Refractories Applications and News", VoI 9, Number 5, September/October 2004, pages 20-25, explains that the service life of current gasifier refractory coatings, in particular in air-cooled systems, is very limited despite their high content of chromium oxide. He mentions in particular the report by SJ. Clayton, GJ. Stiegel and J. G. Wimer "Gasification Technologies, Gasification Markets and Technologies - Present and future, an Industry Perspective", US DOE report DOE/FE 0447, July 2002.

There is therefore a requirement for a refractory coating adapted to resist the corrosion encountered in gasifiers more effectively and more durably than prior art products.

The object of the invention is to satisfy this requirement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the above object is achieved by means of a gasifier internal refractory coating having at least one region of a sintered material containing at least 45% by weight of chromium oxide (Cr ₂ O ₃ ) and at least 1 %, preferably at least 2 %, and more preferably at least 3 %, by weight of zirconium oxide (ZrO ₂ ), at least 20%, preferably at least 30 %, by weight of said zirconium oxide (ZrO ₂ ) being stabilized in the cubic and/or quadratic form. As will emerge in more detail in the remainder of the description, surprisingly, the presence of at least 1% zirconium oxide of which at least 20% by weight is stabilized in the cubic and/or quadratic form reduces infiltration and attack by slag without degrading the other functional properties of the coating.

Said coating material of the invention preferably has one or more of the following optional features:

- At least 60% of the zirconium oxide is stabilized in the cubic and/or quadratic form.

- Said material contains at least one dopant, stabilizing or not stabilizing the zirconium oxide, selected from CaO, MgO, Y ₂ O ₃ and TiO ₂ , the preferred dopant being CaO. The content of calcium oxide (CaO) of said material is preferably less than 1.0 % by weight. The dopant preferably stabilizes the zirconium oxide, at least in part.

- The content of zirconium oxide (ZrO ₂ ) is greater than 4.5%, preferably greater than 6% by weight, and/or less than 7% by weight. - The content of chromium oxide (Cr ₂ O ₃ ) is greater than 60% by weight and preferably greater than 80% by weight.

- Said material has an aluminum oxide (AI ₂ O ₃ ) content greater than 1% by weight, preferably greater than 2% by weight, and/or less than 10% by weight, preferably less than 5% by weight, preferably less than 3.5% by weight. - Said material has a silica content greater than 0.5% by weight, preferably greater than 1% by weight, and/or less than 3% by weight, preferably less than 1.5% by weight.

- The sum of the contents of oxides of chromium (Cr ₂ O ₃ ), zirconium (ZrO ₂ ), aluminum (AI ₂ O ₃ ), silicon (SiO ₂ ) and calcium (CaO) is greater than 95%, preferably greater than 98%, by weight, the other constituents of the product being impurities. The impurities conventionally comprise iron essentially in the form of Fe ₂ O ₃ and oxides of alkali metals such as Na ₂ O and K ₂ O. Such contents of impurities are not considered to call into question the advantages obtained from using the material.

- The structure of the material features a granulate of chromium oxide bound by a matrix comprising grains including zirconium oxide and a dopant selected from

CaO, MgO, Y ₂ O ₃ and TiO ₂ , the dopant, stabilizing or not stabilizing the zirconium oxide, the percentage of zirconium oxide contained in said grains being greater than 1 %, preferably greater than 2.5%, by weight relative to the weight of the material. The dopant content in the grains containing zirconium oxide and a dopant is preferably from 1 % to 8% by weight relative to the weight of said grains.

- The material takes the form of a layer applied to the interior wall of a reactor of the gasifier or of an assembly of blocks arranged to protect said wall. The whole of the layer or all the blocks of the assembly preferably consist(s) of a material such as that defined hereinabove. In the present description, all percentages are percentages by weight unless otherwise indicated.

The composition of the slags in gasifiers typically consists of SiO ₂ , FeO or

Fe ₂ O ₃ , CaO and AI ₂ O ₃ . It may also include other oxides derived from products feeding the reactor. The base index B = (CaO + MgO + Fe ₂ O ₃ X(AI ₂ O ₃ + SiO ₂ ) is typically about 0.6 and the ratio C/S = CaO/SiO ₂ is typically 0.4, the contents being expressed as percentages by weight.

Wang Zhe, as reported in the paper "Application of ZrC> ₂ in high Cr ₂ O ₃ low cement castable refractories for Refuse Melter" published in the proceedings of the 8th Biennial UNITEC Congress "Worldwide Conference Refractories ECO Refractory For The Earth" held from 19-22 October 2003 in Osaka (Japan), studied the behavior of products with high chromium oxide and aluminum oxide contents, containing no silicon oxide, in relation to corrosive slags encountered in furnaces for incineration of domestic or industrial waste. The addition of a highly stabilized zirconia in cubic form representing from 3.2% to 6.4% of the total composition is described as unfavorable to resistance to dissolution by the slags cited in the above publication. However, incineration furnace slags are very different from those of gasifiers, as they have the following characteristics: B index of approximately 1.2; C/S ratio of approximately 1.5.

A coating must be adapted to the corrosive conditions that it encounters.

Thus it cannot be expected that a coating known to be resistant to certain corrosive conditions will be equally resistant when subjected to other corrosive conditions. Thus it is found that materials conforming to the invention include the materials described by Wang Zhe as ineffective for waste incineration furnaces. Surprisingly, the inventors have discovered that these materials are effective in an application to a gasifier coating. In applications such as glassmaking furnaces or iron and steel furnaces, as described in the patent EP 0 404 610, for example, there are known in the art products consisting of zirconium oxide and chromium oxide. These products contain zirconium oxide in a proportion from 1 % to 9% by weight relative to the total composition. According to the above patent, it is essential that at least 80% of the zirconium oxide be in the monoclinic form, monoclinic zirconium being described as the "key ingredient" for improving resistance to thermal shocks. Surprisingly, in the light of this teaching, the inventors have discovered that, in the application to a gasifier coating, the presence of zirconium oxide stabilized to at least 20% is, on the contrary, advantageous. Zirconium oxide can be stabilized by means of a stabilizing dopant and/or by heat treatment at very high temperature (typically greater than 1700 ⁰ C). According to the invention at least 20% by weight of the zirconium oxide is stabilized in the cubic and/or quadratic form.

A dopant selected from CaO, MgO, Y ₂ O ₃ and TiO ₂ , acting or not acting as a stabilizer, is preferably present in the coating material of the invention. The refractory coating material of the invention consists of one or more granulates, i.e. particles having a particle size greater than 150 μm, surrounded by a binder matrix.

The granulates may have diverse chemical compositions, in particular they can consist of chromium oxide, the total content of chromium oxide of the material being at least 45% by weight.

The binder matrix comprises grains, i.e. particles having a particle size less than 150 μm, including zirconium oxide and a dopant. According to the invention, the zirconium oxide alone present in these grains preferably represents more than 2.5% of the total weight of the material. In these grains, the dopant may have the function of stabilizing the zirconium oxide or not. The binder matrix may further comprise other grains, in particular grains of zirconium oxide with no dopant.

The coating of the invention may be fabricated in the form of a layer obtained from a non-worked product or in the form of an assembly of refractory blocks.

To fabricate a coating in the form of a layer, a base mixture is prepared of particles of chromium oxide and zirconia, and possibly other oxides, in proportions determined as a function of the composition of the required material. The dopant may be added to the mixture and/or be included with the zirconia, as a stabilizer. Forming additives may be added to facilitate use, preferably in a proportion of less than 7%.

The manner of determining the proportions of the constituents of the base mixture is well known to the person skilled in the art. In particular, the person skilled in the art knows that the chromium, aluminum and zirconium oxides present in the base mixture are found in the sintered refractory material. Certain oxides of this material can also be introduced by the additives. The composition of the base mixture may therefore vary, in particular as a function of the quantities and the nature of the additives present.

The chromium oxide may be added in the form of a mixture of sintered or fused chromium oxide particles. The aluminum oxide may be added in the form of a mixture of calcined or reactive particles of alumina, or even of white corundum. The zirconium oxide may be added in the form of commercially available unstabilized zirconia and/or in the form of stabilized zirconia, for example zirconia from Unitec, in powder form.

A powder is made up of particles of which 90% by weight have a particle size less than 150 μm. The base mixture preferably includes at least 0.2% by weight of stabilized zirconia powder.

The base mixture preferably includes:

- at least 60% of a particular mixture based on oxides of which at least 90% by weight consists of particles having a particle size greater than 150 microns but less than 20 mm;

- less than 40% of a mixture of particles, at least 90% by weight of the particles having a particle size less than 150 μm;

- less than 7% of one or more forming additives well known to the person skilled in the art.

The base mixture is preferably homogenized and conditioned. A mixture of this kind is advantageously ready for use and may be applied to the interior wall of the reactor, for example by casting, vibrocasting or spraying, as a function of requirements and with great flexibility, and then sintered in situ during preheating of the reactor, to produce a refractory coating of the invention. Sintering occurs at atmospheric pressure, in an oxidizing atmosphere and at a temperature from 1300 ⁰ C to 1600 ⁰ C.

To fabricate a coating of the invention, it is equally possible to assemble sintered blocks or prefabricated blocks which are then sintered in service when the reactor is heated up.

To fabricate a sintered block, a fabrication method may be used that includes the following successive steps: a) preparing a charge, b) forming said charge in a mold, c) casting said charge in the mold or compacting the charge by vibration and/or pressing and/or pounding of said charge in the mold to form a preform, d) removing the preform from the mold, e) drying said preform, preferably in air or a moisture-controlled atmosphere, and preferably so that the residual moisture content of the preform is from 0 to 0.5%, f) firing said preform in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature from

1300°C to 1600 ⁰ C to form a fashioned refractory product, or a sintered "refractory block".

Like the base mixture described above, the charge includes oxides determined as a function of the final composition of the block, precursors thereof and temporary forming additives. The steps a) to f) are steps conventionally employed in the art to fabricate sintered products.

In step a), the manner of determining the quantities of the constituents of the refractory product is well known to the person skilled in the art. In particular, the person skilled in the art knows that the chromium, aluminum and zirconium oxides present in the starting charge are found in the fabricated refractory product. Certain oxides may also be introduced by the additives. For the same quantity of constituents of the sintered refractory product, the composition of the starting charge may therefore vary, in particular as a function of the quantities and the nature of the additives present in the charge.

The additives may be added to the starting charge to ensure that it is sufficiently plasticized during the step b) of forming it and to confer sufficient mechanical strength on the preform obtained at the end of the steps d) and e). Non- limiting examples of additives that may be used are: - organic temporary binders (i.e. binders that are eliminated wholly or in part during drying and firing steps), such as resins, derivatives of cellulose or lignone, polyvinyl alcohols; the quantity of temporary binder is preferably from 0.1% to 6% by weight relative to the weight of the particular mixture of the charge;

- forming agents such as stearates of magnesium or calcium; - hydraulic binders such as CaO aluminate cement;

- deflocculating agents such as alkaline polyphosphates or methacrylate derivatives;

- sintering promoters such as titanium dioxide or magnesium hydroxide;

- clay type additives that facilitate use and assist sintering; the above additives introduce alumina and silica and a few oxides of alkali or alkaline-earth metals, even iron oxide, depending on the type of clay.

The above quantities of additives are not limiting on the invention. In particular, the quantities conventionally used in sintering processes are appropriate.

The mixing of the various constituents of the charge continues until a substantially homogeneous mass is obtained.

In the step b), the charge is formed and disposed in a mold.

In the step c), in the case of forming by pressing, a specific pressure of 400 to 800 kg/cm ² is appropriate. Pressing is preferably effected uniaxially or isostatically, for example by means of a hydraulic press. It may advantageously be preceded by an operation of manual or pneumatic ramming and/or of vibration. The drying of the step e) may be effected at a moderately high temperature. It is preferably effected at a temperature from 110 ⁰ C to 200 ⁰ C. It conventionally takes from ten hours to one week, depending on the format of the preform, continuing until the residual moisture content of the preform is less than 0.5%. The dried preform is then fired (step f)). The firing time, from approximately three days to approximately 15 days from cold to cold, varies as a function of the materials but also as a function of the size and the shape of the parts. The firing cycle is preferably effected in the conventional manner, in air, at a temperature from 1300°C to 1600°C. Surprisingly, the fashioned refractory product obtained at the end of the step f) has proved particularly resistant to the stresses encountered inside gasifier reactors, in particular to infiltration by fused ash or slag.

To fabricate a prefabricated block, the process steps a) to e) described above are used, but at least part of the firing step f) is effected after assembling the blocks in the reactor.

The blocks are assembled by means of appropriate expansion joints, using techniques well known to the person skilled in the art.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXAMPLES The following examples provide a non-exhaustive illustration of the invention. The following raw materials were used for these examples: particulate mixture of chromium oxide, with a purity of 98% Cr ₂ Os by weight, and consisting of at least 90% by weight of particles having a size greater than 20 microns but less than 20 mm, - pigmentary chromium oxide powder (>98% of Cr ₂ Os) whose median diameter

(D50) is less than 2 microns, calcined or micronized alumina powder with a median diameter of 5 microns, monoclinic zirconia powder from ZIRPRO having the characteristics set out in table 1 below (powder P1 ), - additives: magnesium or calcium stearates, temporary binders (derivatives of cellulose or lignone), chemical binders (phosphoric acid, derivatives of aluminum monophosphate), stabilized zirconia powder from UNITEC, with the characteristics set out in table 1 below (powder P2), clay with a content of alumina >30%.

Table 1

In a first step a), the raw materials were mixed and 3% water added. This was followed by the process steps: b) forming the charge in a mold, c) compacting the charge in the mold at a pressure of 600 kg/cm ² to form a preform, d) removing the preform from the mold, e) drying the preform, in air, to obtain a residual moisture content of the material less than or equal to 0.5%, f) firing said preform in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature from 1400 ⁰ C to 1600 ⁰ C to form a fashioned refractory product.

The contents of aluminum, chromium, silicon and calcium oxides in the sintered final product were calculated from the chemical composition of the raw materials used for the starting charge.

Observation of the microstructure of the products of the invention shows that they consist of a granulate of chromium oxide surrounded by a binder matrix that contains, for the products 2 to 5, grains of ZrO ₂ -CaO. Microprobe analysis identifies the content of the elements of the grains of ZrO ₂ -CaO coming from the powder P1 or P2.

The density and open porosity were measured on the products before any corrosion had occurred and in accordance with the standard ISO 5017.

Further measurements were effected on products subjected, after the step f), to corrosion representative of the service conditions suffered by the hot face of gasifier coatings. This corrosion was obtained in the following manner. Samples of the product to be tested with a size of 25 * 25 * 180 mm ³ placed in a furnace crucible were immersed in fused slag at a temperature of 1600 ⁰ C for four hours in an argon atmosphere. The samples were rotated at a speed of 2 rpm.

The slag used contained in particular:

SiO ₂ : approximately 30-50%

AI ₂ O ₃ : approximately 10-20%

Fe ₂ O ₃ Or FeO: 15-25% CaO: approximately 10-20%

The base index B of this slag, i.e. the (CaO + MgO + Fe ₂ O ₃ ) / (SiO ₂ + AI ₂ O ₃ ) mass ratio, was typically of the order of 0.6. The CaO/SiO ₂ mass ratio was of the order of 0.4.

The following were evaluated: corrosion indicator, depth of penetration of the CaO of the slag, zirconia depletion, and value of residual modulus of rupture in bending after a thermal shock test.

The corrosion indicator is equal to the following ratio: loss of section of the sample of the product tested at the atmosphere /slag triple point loss of section of the reference sample at the atmosphere /slag triple point

the loss of section resulting from the corrosive attack by the slag described above and from the resulting dissolution of the refractory product.

The corrosion indicator is therefore 100 for the reference product and a value lower than 100 indicates better corrosion resistance than the reference product. The depth of penetration of the CaO of the slag was measured by means of a microprobe on a metallographic section.

The maximum depth to which the zirconia constituting the refractory had been attacked and dissolved by the slag was measured by means of a microprobe. This depth is referred to as "depletion". As the coating of the invention may be subjected in service to high stresses following thermal shocks, the inventors also measured the change in the modulus of rupture in bending of the products subjected to a thermal shock.

The residual modulus of rupture in bending after a thermal shock test was evaluated in accordance with the standard ISO 5014. It is listed as "Residual MOR" in table 2.

The table 2 below summarizes the results obtained.

Table 2

Composition No. 1 is the reference composition. Table 2 indicates that: o The addition of stabilized zirconia containing CaO (compositions 2-3-4-5- 6) reduces the depletion of zirconia, i.e. attacking of the zirconia by the slag. o The presence of more than 0.5% silicon oxide is not harmful to corrosion resistance. o The presence of aluminum oxide may be favorable to resistance to calcium oxide infiltration, as is indicated by comparing compositions 2 and 3. o The calcium oxide added in particular by the source of the zirconia is not particularly harmful to the required properties. o The products of the invention have better corrosion resistance than the reference product. o Composition 3 offers the best compromise for the required properties and is preferred over all the others.

As is now clear, the coating of the invention advantageously reduces infiltration and attack by the slags encountered in gasifier reactors, without other functional properties thereof being degraded.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

Starting from the above described invention, the inventors have further researched products which could exhibit good resistance to corrosion, in particular in the environment encountered in gasifiers, and good mechanical properties.

According to new developments of the invention, the invention also concerns a reactor, in particular a gasifier, comprising an interior wall on which a layer is applied, or an interior wall protected by an assembly of blocks, said layer or said blocks having at least one region of a sintered material containing : i) at least 25% by weight of chromium oxide Cr ₂ O ₃ ; and ii) at least 1% by weight of zirconium oxide, wherein at least 20% by weight of said zirconium oxide ZrO ₂ is stabilized in the cubic and/or quadratic form.

Indeed, the new researches have led to the discovery that very good performances may also be obtained with chromium oxide contents less than 45%, as it is described here under.

Here under, this reactor, in particular gasifier, is designated as a reactor "according to the new developments". The sintered material of a reactor according to the new developments may have one or several of the characteristics of the "sintered material of the gasifier internal refractory coating which is described here above" (i.e. already described in the original US patent application No. 11/166,275).

It may have one or more of the following optional characteristics, which may also be applied to the sintered material of the gasifier internal refractory coating which is described here above:

The silica SiC> ₂ content is less than 9.5%, less than 9 %, less than 8 %, less than 6 %, less than 5 %, or less than 4.5 % by weight. - The zirconium oxide ZrC> ₂ content is less than 25 %, less than 20 %, less than

15 %, less than 10 %, or less than 8 %, by weight.

- At least 70%, at least 95 %, at least 90 %, at least 95 %, or even substantially 100 % of said zirconium oxide is stabilized in the cubic and/or quadratic form.

- The chromium oxide Cr ₂ O ₃ content is more than 30%, more than 35%, more than 40%, more than 45%, more than 50%, more than 65%, more than 70%, more than 75%, or even more than 85%, by weight.

The structure of the material features a granulate bound by a matrix. The granulate may comprise chromium oxide, ZrO ₂ , AI ₂ O ₃ , in particular corundum, AI ₂ O ₃ -ZrO ₂ -SiO ₂ , AI ₃ O ₃ -ZrO ₂ -SiO ₂ -Cr ₂ O ₃ particles, or mixture of said particles. The content of Cr ₂ O ₃ in the granulate may be 15 % or more, or 20 % or more, on the basis of the oxides of the sintered material (granulate + matrix). The content of Cr ₂ O ₃ in the matrix may be 10 % or more, or 15% or more, on the basis of the oxides of the sintered material.

In comparison with the sintered material of the gasifier internal refractory coating which is described here above, the sintered material of a reactor according to the new developments may have lower chromium oxide Cr ₂ O ₃ content. In particular, the difference in the chromium oxide Cr ₂ O ₃ content may be compensated by alumina, in particular corundum and/or zirconia and/or silica and/or magnesia and/or spinel and/or, more generally, crystallographic forms containing the element Aluminum. The choice of the substitute to the chromium oxide may depend on the intended application and in particular on the desired refractoriness.

In a preferred embodiment, the total content of AI ₂ O ₃ + ZrO ₂ may be more than 5 %, more than 20 %, more than 30 %, more than 35 %, and/or less than 70 %, less than 60 %, or less than 50 %, in percentages by weight on the basis of the oxides.

Said layer or said blocks may be fabricated according to the method described here above used in order to fabricate a gasifier internal refractory coating of the invention, provided that the starting charge is adapted, according to the conventional practice. Preferably, the starting charge contains more than 3%, preferably more than 5 %, and/or less than 15%, preferably less than 10% of clay, in percentages on the basis of the wet starting charge. In particular, the clay may be ball clay for instance or bentonite, or other natural aluminosilicates or even artificial aluminosilicates.

FURTHER NEW DEVELOPMENTS

According to further new developments of the invention, the invention also concerns a sintered material containing: at least 25% by weight of chromium oxide Cr ₂ O ₃ ;and at least 0.5% by weight and less than 9.5% of silica SiO ₂ ; and at least 1% by weight of zirconium oxide, at least 20% by weight of said zirconium oxide ZrO ₂ being stabilized in the cubic and/or quadratic form.

Here under, this sintered material is designated as a "sintered material according to the further new developments".

As will emerge in more detail in the following description, surprisingly, the presence of silica may confer to a sintered material according to the further new developments good resistance to corrosion, in particular in the environment encountered in gasifiers, and very good mechanical properties.

This sintered material preferably has one or more of the following optional characteristics:

Said sintered material contains more than 30%, more than 35%, more than

40%, more than 45%, more than 50%, and/or less than 70%, less than 60%, less than 55%, by weight, of chromium oxide Cr ₂ O ₃ . A chromium oxide Cr ₂ O ₃ content of about 53% by weight is very well adapted.

Said sintered material contains more than 3%, more than 4%, more than 5%, and/or less than 9%, less than 8%, less than 7%, less than 6%, by weight, of silica SiO ₂ . A silica SiO ₂ content of about 5.5% by weight is very well adapted. - The total content of AI ₂ O ₃ + ZrO ₂ may be more than 5 %, more than 20 %, more than 30 %, more than 35 %, and/or less than 70 %, less than 60 %, or less than 50 %, in percentages by weight on the basis of the oxides. Said sintered material contains more than 10%, more than 12%, more than 15%, more than 17%, more than 19%, and/or less than 45%, less than 40%, less than 35%, less than 30%, less than 25%, or less than 22%, by weight, of aluminum oxide AI ₂ O ₃ . - Said sintered material contains more than 10%, more than 12%, more than

15%, more than 17%, more than 19%, and/or less than 45%, less than 40%, less than 35%, less than 30%, less than 25%, or less than 22%, by weight, of zirconium oxide ZrO ₂ .

- At least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or even about 100%, by weight of said zirconium oxide ZrO ₂ is stabilized in the cubic and/or quadratic form. Said sintered material contains at least one dopant, stabilizing or not stabilizing the zirconium oxide, selected from CaO, MgO, Y ₂ O ₃ , TiO ₂ , and rare earth oxides like CeO ₂ , Er ₂ O ₃ , La ₂ O ₃ , the preferred dopant being CaO. The content of calcium oxide (CaO) is preferably less than 1.0 % by weight. The dopant preferably stabilizes the zirconium oxide, at least in part.

- The sum of the contents of oxides of chromium (Cr ₂ O ₃ ), zirconium (ZrO ₂ ), aluminum (AI ₂ O ₃ ), silicon (SiO ₂ ) and calcium (CaO) is greater than 95%, preferably greater than 98%, preferably greater than 99%, by weight, the other constituents being preferably impurities. The impurities conventionally comprise iron essentially in the form of Fe ₂ O ₃ and oxides of alkali metals such as Na ₂ O and K ₂ O, in particular when clay is introduced in the starting charge. Such contents of impurities are not considered to call into question the advantages obtained from using the sintered material. - The structure of the material features a granulate bound by a matrix. The granulate may comprise chromium oxide, ZrO ₂ , AI ₂ O ₃ , in particular corundum, AI ₂ O ₃ -ZrO ₂ -SiO ₂ , AI ₃ O ₃ -ZrO ₂ -SiO ₂ -Cr ₂ O ₃ particles, or mixture of said particles. The content of Cr ₂ O ₃ in the granulate may be 15 % or more, or 20 % or more, on the basis of the oxides of the sintered material (granulate + matrix). The content of Cr ₂ O ₃ in the matrix may be 10 % or more, or 15 % or more, on the basis of the oxides of the sintered material.

- The structure of the material features a granulate of chromium oxide bound by a matrix comprising grains including zirconium oxide and a dopant selected from CaO, MgO, Y2O3, TiO ₂ , and rare earth oxides like CeO ₂ , Er ₂ O ₃ , La ₂ O ₃ , the dopant, stabilizing or not stabilizing the zirconium oxide, the percentage of zirconium oxide contained in said grains being greater than 1%, preferably greater than 2.5%, by weight relative to the weight of the material. The dopant content in the grains containing zirconium oxide and a dopant is preferably from 1% to 8% by weight relative to the weight of said grains. - The material takes the form of a layer applied to the interior wall of a reactor, in particular of the gasifier, or of an assembly of blocks arranged to protect said wall. The whole of the layer or all the blocks of the assembly preferably consist(s) of a sintered material according to the further new developments.

The sintered material according to the further new developments may be fabricated according to the method described here above used in order to fabricate a gasifier internal refractory coating of the invention, provided that the starting charge is adapted, according to the conventional practice, so as to obtain this sintered material. Preferably, the starting charge contains between more than 3%, preferably more than 5 %, and/or less than 15%, preferably less than 10% of clay, more preferably less than 7% in percentages on the basis of the wet starting charge. In particular, the clay may be ball clay for instance or bentonite, or other natural aluminosilicates or even artificial aluminosilicates.

The invention also concerns a reactor, and in particular a gasifier, comprising an interior wall on which a layer is applied, or an interior wall protected by an assembly of blocks, said layer or said blocks having at least one region of a sintered material according to the further new developments of the invention. The following examples provide a non-exhaustive illustration of the invention according to the further new developments. The same raw materials as the raw materials used for the examples 1 to 5 have been used, excepted that the following raw materials were also used: particulate mixture of particles ER2161 , said particles mainly being composed of chromium, aluminum and zirconium oxides, sold by SEPR (France) with the following average composition : AI ₂ O ₃ : 28%, ZrO ₂ : 27%, Cr ₂ O ₃ : 27%, SiO ₂ : 15%, impurities : complement to 100%. This mixture comprises at least 90% by weight of particles having a size greater than 20 microns and less than 20 mm; particulate mixture of particles ER1681 , said particles mainly being composed of aluminum, zirconium and silicon oxides, sold by SEPR (France) with the following average composition : AI ₂ O ₃ : 51%, ZrO ₂ : 32.5%, SiO ₂ : 15%, impurities : complement to 100%. This mixture comprises at least 90% by weight of particles having a size greater than 20 microns and less than 20 mm; calcined alumina with a median diameter less than 150 μm.

Examples 6 to 10 were fabricated and tested in the same way as examples 1 to 5.

The table 3 below summarises the results.

Table 3:

n.m = not measured The products 6 to 9 exhibit very good thermal shock resistance and a corrosion indicator which is much less than the corrosion indicator of product 10.

Table 3 also shows that products 7 and 9, comprising more than 3% of silica are preferable to products 6 and 8, respectively. Indeed, the products 7 and 9 of the invention may be compared to the products 6 and 8, respectively, which present similar chromium oxide contents and similar densities. Table 3 shows that the products 7 and 9 exhibit better resistance to corrosion, i.e. lower corrosion indicators. This is surprising since the products 7 and 9 have higher silica content than the products 6 and 8, respectively. Moreover, advantageously the products 7 and 9 exhibit a lower depth of

CaO infiltration, less zirconia depletion and higher residual MOR compared to the products 6 and 8, respectively.

The product 9 is preferred.

A comparison of example 10 with example 7, presenting similar chromium oxide content, shows that silica content higher than 10% is detrimental to the corrosion resistance. In particular, the corrosion indicator and the depth of CaO infiltration of example 10 are significantly higher.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described, which are given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example.