Effect of cycled combustion ageing on a cordierite burner plate

►Depth profile analyses used as a probe to understand changes in refractory structure. ►All changes take place in the uppermost surface of the burner, close to the flame. ►Reduction to Fe2+ of substitutional Fe3+ ions and partial cordierite decomposition. ►Heating-cooling cycling induces a sintering of the existing iron oxide particles. ►Chemical changes can explain the alterations observed in the material microstructure.