EVOLUTION OF PERFORMANCE OF REFRACTORY LINING FOR THE SLAG LINE OF STEEL LADLES AT USIMINAS IPATINGA

Since 2008, Usiminas has initiated a series of actions aiming to increase the life of the refractory lining for the steel ladles and boost technological development in this area. The limitation of the lining was the performance of the bricks used in the slag line. In this sense, the results of tests that show the evolution of the main properties of MgO-C bricks used in this area are presented and discussed. The permanent characterization has permitted the selection of those with best suited properties for the Usiminas process conditions, and assisted refractory suppliers in the development of these materials. These efforts provided an average increase in the lining campaign about 6%, since the beginning of the actions in 2008, without increase the cost