Trends in steelmaking refractories

Considerable progress is being made in the development of refractories for steelmaking. This progress covers improved performance materials, ladle lining design, lining installation, and hot repair methods. The driving forces for improvements are: (i) the demand for cleaner steels which involves longer processing times at higher temperatures, (ii) the pressure to cut costs by extending the service life of refractory linings, (iii) environmental considerations which are having an impact on the use of tar-bonded refractories and could affect the use of chrome-containing refractories.