Refractory materials of metallurgical furnaces with the addition of silicon production waste

Currently, there are problems with the operation of metallurgical furnaces at high process temperatures. In the melting zone, the destruction of the side lining and the hearth slab lining in the contact zone of the melt is especially common due to the chemical aggressive environment from the processes of interaction and reactions between the components and mechanical wear as a result of the impact of the tool during maintenance. In most cases, refractory materials do not provide stable operation of the metallurgical unit, they have low operational characteristics. Of scientific and technical interest is the use as a modifying additive for a refractory mixture of technogenic microsilica — waste in the production of metallurgical silicon. Microsilica is a unique finely dispersed composite material with high strength, low density, and with a highly developed particle surface, which further gives refractory products improved strength and durability properties. As part of the study, a series of experiments were conducted with microsilica waste in the production technology of general-purpose fireclay products, as well as in the production technology of refractory concrete mix for monolithic concrete linings and the manufacture of refractory products. It has been established that the optimal value of the content of microsilica in the total mass of general-purpose fireclay products is in the range from 3 to 7%, and in the composition of a dry refractory concrete mixture from 1 to 2%, which does not lead to a decrease in the quality charac- teristics of the products. Tests of samples have shown that the use of microsilica in the production of refractories can significantly improve properties such as heat resistance and fire resistance, while redu- cing the cost of production. The obtained results of experiments conducted with the initial microsilica and its behavior in refractory mixtures indicate that the proposed fine composite material can be used in refractory products and introduced into technical standards.