Ironmaking

General Areas Served

Crude steel production begins with the reduction process, whereby iron ore reacts with carbon sources inside the blast furnace. It is imperative that refractory products used inside the blast furnace are resistant to these thermomechanical and thermochemical reactions.

 

Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories designs, engineers and supplies a comprehensive range of high quality refractory products and solutions, specifically developed for blast furnaces.

An extensive range of refractories ideal for use downstream of the blast furnace is also available, including:

  • High quality tap hole mixes, customized to meet customer requirements
  • Concretes with excellent performance characteristics, ideal for troughs and runners
  • Alumina silicon carbide carbon bricks for torpedo ladles

 

Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories is also focused on developing materials for the evolving needs of DRI (Direct Reduced Iron) processes. Refractory requirements increase in line with H2 usage.

 

Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories’ extensive experience in related industries (for example, pure H2 atmosphere) makes it uniquely suited to providing optimal solutions to meet this challenge.

 

Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories is currently working to become carbon neutral by 2050 – a goal shared across much of the ironmaking industry.

 

Solution By Application

Click on your application to find more:

Blast Furnace Repairs

Solutions to extend Blast Furnace life-time

Shotcrete,Ironmaking,Blast furnace,

With blast furnace service lives typically extending to 20 years or more, it is essential that effective intermediate refractory repairs are performed to address advancing wear in areas such as the stack, tap holes, hearth walls and pads.

 

Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories offers a number of castable and shotcrete solutions, ideal for various furnace areas:

  • Sialfrax™ 18 Cast (colloidal silica bonded) for reprofiling and tap hole repairs in the hearth.
  • Sialfrax™ 18 Shot for lower stack repairs.
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Low rebound loss
Corrosion Resistance icon
High corrosion resistance
Corrosion Resistance icon
High erosion resistance

 

Conventional coke and charcoal blast furnace require specific types of refractories to ensure smooth operation.

Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories provides a comprehensive range of products for conventional coke and charcoal blast furnace, many of which can be customized according to customers’ requirements and operating conditions.

 

Products for Blast Furnace Repair

Area Main wear mechanism Suitable Product
Hearth Molten Iron/Slag Erosion Sialfrax™ 18 Shot+
Sialfrax™ 18 Cast+
Lower Stack Abrasion / Strong Alkali Attack Sialfrax™ 18 Shot+
Middle and Upper Stack Abrasion at < 1,000°C Sialfrax™ 18 Shot+

 

FAQ

What are the benefits of utilizing colloidal silica materials in the lower stack, belly and bosh?

Sialfrax™ 18 Shot demonstrates high mechanical strength at high temperature, while its SiC content ensures high alkali and abrasion resistance.

What is the benefit of performing regular hearth repairs?

Regular repairs will not mitigate the eventual need for a complete blast furnace reline, but these will help to reduce downtime and extend the period before the blast furnace requires fully relining.

Document

Brochures & Flyers
Ironmaking Blast Furnace Repair Products

Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories offers a number of castable and shotcrete solutions, ideal for various furnace areas

PDF | 424.1 KB
Ironmaking Blast Furnace Repair Products
Brochures & Flyers
Ironmaking Ceramic Cup Savings

Coranit AL extends hearth wall life by approximately 10 years, our latest development is expected to increase hearth wall life by a further 2 to 3 years.

PDF | 243.96 KB
Ironmaking Ceramic Cup Savings