Application of refractory materials for steel ladles

The article analyzes the service life of refractories and various options for combined lining of steel ladles used in steelmaking shops with out-of-furnace steel processing departments, and identifies the main trends in its development. The use of various types of lining is analyzed based on the experience of Japan, Germany, Austria, and France. The technological conditions of operation of steel ladles with the main lining are considered. Under operating conditions, the lining areas near the slag belt and the place where the jet hits the bottom of the ladle are subject to the greatest destruction, so it is advisable to install high-quality refractories in these areas. In addition, the reasons for the insufficient stability of refractories are identified, including decarburization, corrosion, ladle slag formed during out-of-furnace metal processing, the use of synthetic additives to slag, high thermal conductivity of refractory materials during operation, and others. Ways to increase the service life of steel ladles are identified. It is shown that the world practice is characterized by the use and intensive improvement of the main lining of steel ladles through the use of new materials with increased refractory and operational characteristics. The experience of refractory improvement by Shinagawa Refractories, TYK Corp, Plibrico, Nippon Steel, Krosaki Harima, and IPSCO Steel, including practical testing at production, is presented. It is established that the high cost of consumables and increased requirements for manufacturing technology hinder the massive introduction of the developed technologies at metallurgical enterprises