US EPA

4849886 

Journal Article 

ANDALUSITE APPLIED IN EAF ROOF CASTABLES 

Xiong, XY; Mu, ZSun; Li, ZhiJ; Hu, F 

2014 

655-660 

WOS:000348596100113 

The high temperature radiation of electric arc, especially high temperature radiation of the nearby area of electrode, can cause refractory of EAF roof the structure spalling, the chemical corrosion, the erosion of high speed airflow and the slag corroding to refractory. The EAF roof refractory needs good thermal stability, excellent thermo shock resistance, excellent slag resistance.



EAF roof castables generally use corundum-mullite based castables with chromic oxide addition. The main problem of this type of castable is spalling and poor thermal shock resistance.



Andalusite is a refractory raw material composed by bi-oxide of aluminium and silica (Al2O3SiO2). It's very known that andalusite has strong thermal stability (resistance to thermal choc and low creep). Andalusite will be transformed to mullite at 1000 degrees-1400 degrees C-[1],C-[2].



In this research work we introduced andalusite in corundum castable to improve the thermal shock resistance. The thermal mechanical properties have been obviously improved.



An industrial trial using an andalusite (52%) and corundum castable has been made in an EAF for special steel (steel-chrome-nickel-molybdenum alloy) production with a very serious working condition. The life time is improved by 50% regarding the original corundum castable.