'Magnesite Replacement by Dolomitic Lime Use in the .S. Steel Industry'

摘要

The use of MgO bearing materials has been beneficial in improving refractory performance in the basicoxygen convertor, electric arc furnace, argon oxygen decarburization convertor and ladle performance.Further improvements have been achieved in electrical performance for electric arc furnaces bycontrolling slag chemistries to achieve optimum foaming slags. Steelmakers have increased theirknowledge on slag chemistries and are now dependent on x-ray analysis from each heat to monitor anychanges in slag chemistry trends so that adjustments can be made to maintain the correct slagcharacteristics.The use of Chinese magnesite has been successfully replaced by dolomitic lime to achieve aneconomical practice in steelmaking with consistency in slag chemistry control. Efforts to counteract themarketing strategy by suppliers of magnesite required a three prong attack utilizing science, effectivemarketing and direct customer assistance in the shop.This paper will show the results of these efforts in comparing Chinese magnesite and dolomitic lime andconclude there is no difference in performance and is strictly a decision of economics.