Study of the wear of MgO-C refractory in the slag line of steel ladles
Edgard Marcos Ribeiro, Marcos Vinicius Ribeiro da Cunha, Natália de Castro Bicalho, Rafael Ferreira Delfim Bueno, Helton Jackson Costa, Alamar Kasan Duarte, Vinicius dos Santos Ribeiro, Débora Guimarães da Silva, Wander Luiz Vasconcelos
Abstract
The refractory wear in the slag line of steel ladles is a key factor in steelmaking operations. Understanding the characteristics of the refractory materials used in this region and their interactions with the process is essential for safe operation and optimized performance. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the microstructure of different refractory materials applied to the slag line of steel ladles, identifying the types of magnesia used in each material, the presence of antioxidants, physical properties, and the interaction of each with two typical types of secondary refining slags. Six different commercial brands of MgO-C refractory materials were analyzed through laboratory tests, including chemical analysis, bulk density and apparent porosity and cold crushing strength (CCS), both in the as-received condition and after exposure to 1400 °C for 1 hour in a reducing atmosphere, oxidation resistance, and static corrosion tests. Refractory materials composed exclusively of fused magnesia grains, with larger crystal sizes and a well-distributed graphite matrix, demonstrated greater resistance to chemical attack by slags.
Keywords
References
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Submitted date:
10/28/2025
Accepted date:
02/02/2026
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