Service of mullite-corundum refractories in the center portion of the roof of high-power electric arc furnaces

Conclusions Type MKS domestic mullite-corundum parts to Technical Standard 14-8-140-75 have been introduced for the center portion of the water cooled roof of high-power arc steel melting furnaces at Belorussian Metallurgical Plant. The length of the roof campaign reached 180–220 heats without intermediate repairs, which is 25% longer than the life of imported refractories.The design of the center portion of the roof without a hole for charging of loose materials provides with the forms and dimensions of the parts used a symmetric lining and uniform distribution in it of the thermomechanical loads, which provides uniform wear of the lining and eliminates deformation of it during service of furnaces.On the basis of investigation of samples of the imported and domestic mullite-corundum roof parts after service it was established that wear of the lining occurs by fusion as the result of interaction of the refractories with the melting dust at 1660–1710°C.Different relative rates of chemical transformation and fusion of the mineral phases of the refractories were revealed. Mullite interacts with the melting reactants and fuses most intensely. In connection with this its content in mullite-corundum roof parts must not exceed 15–20%.Translated from Ogneupory, No. 1, pp. 56–60, January, 1987.