Damage mechanism of copper stave used in blast furnace

In order to prolong the life of copper stave, the damage forms and reasons for copper stave were studied through the investigation of 49 blast furnaces. The damage mechanism for copper stave was investigated through thermodynamic calculation, microstructure analysis and scanning electron microscope. The results show that the main reason for the damage of copper stave is mechanical wear owing to the slag layer peel off on the hot face. Thermodynamic calculation results show the hydrogen disease reaction occurs as long as the gas flow is directly contact with copper stave body, and the volume expansion rate of copper stave body is about 183%, a large number of micro pores appear in the microstructure forcing copper stave damage. The oxygen content in copper material is critical to hydrogen disease; the service life of copper stave will be extended by strictly controlling the oxygen content in copper material.