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
- 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:
Tap Hole Clay
High Performance and Operational Safety
Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories’ high performance tap hole clay provides excellent blast furnace hearth protection, considerably increasing its service life, reducing the risk of stoppages and lowering overall maintenance costs.
Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories offers a comprehensive portfolio of high performance tap hole mixes suitable for every size of blast furnace. A unique combination of the finest raw materials, industry-leading technology, expertise and experience of current furnace conditions ensures that Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories’ range of custom products offers:
- Increased tap hole lengths
- Stable and long tapping time
- Excellent furnace hearth protection
Unique fast sintering materials are also available for consecutive tapping operations in small furnaces, alongside expansive clays for furnace blow-ins and a crack closing technology for damaged tap hole ‘mushrooms‘.
Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories offers:
- Customized solutions
- Local technical support
- Environmentally friendly product lines
- Strong and stable partnerships with customers
- State-of-the-art technology
Features and Benefits
| Applications | Products | Characteristics | Benefits |
| Small Furnaces | CL | Soft tap hole mix | Minimal splashing during casting |
| Medium and Large Furnaces | SR | Resistance to erosion and corosion by iron and slag | Allows stable operation |
| Consecutive Taps | SR Consecutive | Quick hardening | Enables safe operation when the blast furnace runs with a single taphole |
| Demanding Conditions | SR HP | High adhesion | Maximum protection of hearth wall |
| All Furnaces | EcoTap | Ecological binder | Decresead amount of hazardous compounds released during use |
FAQ
How does Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories’ tap hole clay help to extend equipment service life?
Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories’ tap hole clay leverages the latest, most innovative technology to improve adhesion and ensure extremely high corrosion resistance. It can effectively protect the hearth walls around the tap holes, significantly extending a blast furnace’s service life.
How does Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories’ tap hole clay help to reduce operation costs?
Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories tap hole clay boasts a unique microstructure and enhanced properties, maximizing pig iron production while maintaining a strong and stable mushroom. As such a low volume of clay is required to plug the tap hole after each casting, routine use of Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories tap hole clay will result in much lower operating costs, versus similar materials available in the market.
How does using a high performance tap hole clay help to ensure stable and efficient blast furnace processes?
Clay performance has a direct impact on a furnace’s operational stability, as this dictates the effectiveness of controlled liquid drainage. The tap hole clay formulation must offer an integrated solution based on three key considerations:
- High corrosion resistance
- Good adhesion properties
- Adequate plastic behavior
