WEAR OF BASIC REFRACTORY LININGS IN CONVERTERS

Objective. The present article helps to describe the wear mechanism of basic converter linings. With operating results and laboratory experi ments used as a basis, the aim was to determine the influence exerted on refractory wear by the tapping temperature and by the degree of lim e saturation of the slags. Although magnesite converter linings are no w state of the art, dolomite was also included in the studies for comp arison purposes. Summary. A so-called degree of lime saturation for co nverter slags was defined. It describes, among other things, the aggre ssivity of slags in relation to the converter lining. The wear of basi c converter linings was examined on the basis of operating results and laboratory experiments. On the whole, dolomite is found to exhibit co nsiderably greater wear than magnesite when attacked by converter slag s. The wear of the dolomite is, in contrast to magnesite bricks, heigh tened particularly if lime undersaturated con verter slags are used, o r if the tapping temperature exceeds 1680-1700 degrees C. This means t hat only magnesite bricks represent a practical refractory lining solu tion for converters in case of tapping temperatures above approximatel y 1680 degrees C or in case of slags that are not significantly supers aturated with lime at low temperatures.