Abstract

Magnesia-Alumina-Carbon (MAC) and Alumina-Magnesia-Carbon (AMC) bricks have been consolidated as a product for the metal line of the steel ladles in a majority of the integrated steel shops worldwide. Spinel MgO.Al2O3 formation during ladle operation allows to an expansive reaction that can prevent metal and slag infiltration and also promotes better corrosion resistance.

The requirements for steel quality depend on the steel shop process. Refractory indication follows operational conditions of each customer in order to optimize the campaign with acceptable cost/benefit. Better performance is the driven force for searching innovative solutions to MAC bricks in order to fulfill the performance even in particular conditions, as in both Al and Si killed steel ladles.

This work presents the development of the MAC bricks with addition of a cement CaO-MgO-Al2O3 aggregate as an alternative technological solution for the ladle metal line. A comparative evaluation was performed to show the potential of this new raw material. Product properties, physical and thermodynamic evaluation and customer trials are presented in this paper.