The Thermo Mechanical Behavior and Economics of Lightweight, Insulative Dry-Vibratable for the Tank Lining of Iron and Steel Ladles

摘要

The use of a dry-vibratable monolithic refractory as the tank lining of a steel ladle was first introduced as the safety lining behind dolomitic working linings, providing increased thermal expansion relief and a monolithic barrier for reduced metal penetration. The growth of dry-vibratable refractories as steel ladle tank linings rose in proportion to the quest for cleaner steel quality and the increased use of MgO-C and dolomitic working lining refractory. The downside of dolomite was its increased thermal expansion ― approximately double the thermal expansion of alumina refractory. The increased thermal expansion of dolomite put greater thermal stresses on the ladle tank lining and the steel shell. Upon cooling, the dolomite brick working lining exhibited greater thermal contraction, resulting in open joints as a path for steel finning penetration. Both of these concerns were overcome using a dense, high-alumina dry vibratable as the steel ladle tank lining. The dry vibratable achieves strength due to sintering during service, as the thermal gradient through the working lining promotes thermal bonding, achieving: 1. absorption of initial thermal expansion stresses, as unsintered dry vibratable at the cold face allows compaction; and 2. a densified monolithic barrier to penetration, which stops steel finning through the tank lining to the shell.