Abstract

Steel ladle life is one of the key performance indicating factors for steel plant from the operational and refractory performance point of view. Different varieties of Carbon containing refractory are used in the working lining of the steel ladle. To improve the performance of steel ladle life, refractory quality optimisation is done through in depth analysis of the refractory lined. After optimising the quality of magnesia carbon refractory different operating conditions are monitored and suitable change in the ladle design was performed.

The present paper deals with the comparative analysis of different working lining brick properties and performance used in the ladle. Chemical and physical properties are investigated of magnesia carbon bricks supplied by three different suppliers. Oxidation resistance is measured in TG DSC machine along with evolve gas analysis to understand the oxidation reaction in the bricks. Thermal expansion in inert atmosphere, high temperature creep at 1500 deg C temperature and pore size distribution are measured for comparison of the bricks. HMOR and MOE measurement conducted at 1400 degree centigrade on different quality of magnesia carbon bricks. Static slag corrosion in crucible and rotary slag corrosion test was conducted to understand the corrosion behabour of the magnesia carbon materials. Rotating finger test at 1600 degree centigrade was performed in induction melting furnace using plant slag. Detail morphology of the materials was studied by SEM with EDAX. With the continuous improvement in the steel ladle, 20% life improvement achieved in flat product and long product shop in our steel plant.