The service of the hearths of arc furnaces for melting stainless steels with the use of oxygen

Conclusions During the operation of arc furnaces specializing in the melting of stainless steels, chemical and phase changes occur in the magnesite hearths which lead to the formation of a single type structure in the monolith of rammed layer and upper courses of the structure.Petrographic studies showed that the monolith was formed as a result of phase inversions of the minerals of the hearth under the influence of the silicate constituents of the slag being produced, which partly settles to the bottom after discharge of the melt. These inversions greatly affect the physicochemical properties of the hearth and especially the refractoriness. The inversions which increase the refractoriness include the process of recrystallization of the periclase and chrome-spinel with the formation of strong and dense periclase-spinel growths in the upper layers of the hearth.The reduction in the refractoriness occurs owing to the formation of montichellite under the influence of calcium slag constituents and the gradual replacement of the forsterite by this silicate, and also the partial solution of periclase in the silicate melt.The thermal resistance of the hearth is favorably affected by the fact that the new silicate formations are distributed irregularly over the height of the hearth, and the nature of the distribution depends on their fluidity and temperature gradient in the hearth. In view of this consistency, the most refractory silicates, such as forsterite and mervenite, are localized in the upper strata of the hearth, and the montichellite, being the most fusible silicate, migrates to the lower layers.The result of all the processes and phase inversions taking place in the hearth is that the refractoriness of the most important layers of hearth (upper and middle) remains high during service. The reduction in refractoriness in the lower layer cannot greatly affect the life of the hearth since this layer is quite far away from the working region of the furnace and is in the low-temperature region.Large amounts of metals are detected only in the part of the hearth located in direct contact with the furnace bath; metal does not take a large part in the processes occurring in the hearth.The positive influence of the additions of chromite on the life of the hearth of electric furnaces determined during operation, can be explained by the fact that the chromite is essential for the formation of refractory chromespinel phases 2], contributes to the formation of periclase-spinel growths in the upper parts of the hearth, and accelerates the process of removing the less refractory silicates from the upper layers of the hearth to the lower 3].