Thermal conductivity of solidified manganese-bearing slags : a preliminary investigation

The thermal conductivity of slag is an important parameter in the design of furnace-containment systems based on freeze-lining technology. Literature indicates that the crystal content of a slag has a significant influence on its thermal conductivity. Industrial, rich, manganese-bearing slag was cooled at different rates to create samples with different microstructures. The coefficients of thermal conductivity of these samples were measured in a nitrogen atmosphere from room temperature to 990°C at 100°C intervals. The laser-flash measurement technique was used for this purpose. Follow-up investigations included XRF and XRD and modelling in FACTSage.http://www.saimm.co.za/ai201

Wear mechanisms of carbon-based refractory materials in silicomanganese tap holes : Part I : Equilibrium calculations and slag and refractory characterization

Silicomanganese (SiMn) as an alloy supplies silicon and manganese to the steelmaking industry. It is produced through carbothermic reduction in a submerged arc furnace. The slag and metal are typically tapped through a single-level tap hole at 50 K (50 C) below the process temperature of 1873 K to 1923 K (1600 C to 1650 C). In one tapblock refractory design configuration, the tap hole is installed as a carbon tapblock and rebuilt during the life of the lining using carbon-based cold ramming paste. The carbon tapblock lasts for a number of years and ramming paste only for months. The purpose of the study presented here was to determine to what extent chemical reactions between carbon-based refractory and slag or metal in the tap hole of a SiMn furnace can contribute to wear of tap-hole refractory. The results of the study are reported in two parts. In Part I, the results of thermodynamic calculations of the potential for chemical reaction between carbon-based refractory material and slag or metal are reported. The results were tested experimentally using pure graphite and synthetic SiMn slag (produced from pure oxides). The paper also reports the composition, microstructure, and phases of industrial SiMn slag, and commercially available carbon block and cold ramming paste refractory materials. These compositions were used in predicted equilibria of refractory–slag reactions. Thermodynamic calculations suggest that reaction between SiMn slag and carbonbased tap-hole refractory is possible, and experiments with nominally pure materials support this. However, practical refractory materials are by no means pure materials, and contain secondary phases and porosity which can be expected to affect reaction with slag. Such reactions are examined in Part II.National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant TP2011070800005).http://link.springer.com/journal/116632016-04-30hb201

Wear mechanisms of carbon-base refractory materials in SiMn tap-holes : Part II : In situ observation of chemical reactions

The purpose of the study presented here is to determine to what extent chemical reactions between carbon-based refractory and slag or metal in the tap-hole of a SiMn furnace can contribute to wear of tap-hole refractory. The results of the study are reported in two parts. In Part I, thermodynamic calculations suggested that reaction between silicomanganese slag and carbon-based tap-hole refractory is possible, and experiments with nominally pure materials support this. However, practical refractory materials are by no means pure materials and contain secondary phases and porosity which can be expected to affect reaction with slag. In Part II, such reactions are examined experimentally, in cup and wettability tests, using commercially available carbon block and cold-ramming paste refractory materials and mainly industrial SiMn slag. Clear evidence was found of chemical reaction at approximately 1870 K (approximately 1600 C), forming SiC and, it appears, metal droplets. Both carbon block and ramming paste refractory reacted with slag, with preferential attack on and penetration into the binder phase rather than aggregate particles. The two types of carbon-based refractory materials showed similar extents of chemical reaction observed as wetting and penetration in the laboratory tests. The differences in refractory life observed practically in industrial furnaces should therefore be attributed to wear mechanisms other than pure chemical wear as studied in this work.National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant TP2011070800005).http://link.springer.com/journal/116632016-04-30hb201

Chemical wear analysis of a tap-hole on a SiMn production furnace

In April 2013 a 48 MVA submerged arc furnace producing silicomanganese was excavated in South Africa. Since the high shell temperatures recorded in the tap-hole area resulted in the furnace being switched out for relining, the tap-hole area was excavated systematically. A refractory wear profile of the tap-hole area with affected hearth and sidewall refractory was obtained in elevation. The carbon ramming paste in front of, above, and below the tap-hole was worn, as was the SiC with which the tap-hole was built. A clay mushroom formed but was detached from the refractories. Thermodynamic and mass-transfer calculations were conducted to quantify the potential for wear by chemical reaction between refractory and slag and refractory and metal in the tap-hole area. It was found that chemical reaction between refractory and slag or metal could offer only a partial explanation for the wear observed; erosion is expected to contribute significantly to wear.http://www.saimm.co.za/journal-papersam2016Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineerin

Wear Mechanisms of Carbon-Based Refractory Materials in Silicomanganese Tap Holes—Part I: Equilibrium Calculations and Slag and Refractory Characterization

Silicomanganese (SiMn) as an alloy supplies silicon and manganese to the steelmaking industry. It is produced through carbothermic reduction in a submerged arc furnace. The slag and metal are typically tapped through a single-level tap hole at 50 K (50 C) below the process temperature of 1873 K to 1923 K (1600 C to 1650 C). In one tapblock refractory design configuration, the tap hole is installed as a carbon tapblock and rebuilt during the life of the lining using carbon-based cold ramming paste. The carbon tapblock lasts for a number of years and ramming paste only for months. The purpose of the study presented here was to determine to what extent chemical reactions between carbon-based refractory and slag or metal in the tap hole of a SiMn furnace can contribute to wear of tap-hole refractory. The results of the study are reported in two parts. In Part I, the results of thermodynamic calculations of the potential for chemical reaction between carbon-based refractory material and slag or metal are reported. The results were tested experimentally using pure graphite and synthetic SiMn slag (produced from pure oxides). The paper also reports the composition, microstructure, and phases of industrial SiMn slag, and commercially available carbon block and cold ramming paste refractory materials. These compositions were used in predicted equilibria of refractory–slag reactions. Thermodynamic calculations suggest that reaction between SiMn slag and carbonbased tap-hole refractory is possible, and experiments with nominally pure materials support this. However, practical refractory materials are by no means pure materials, and contain secondary phases and porosity which can be expected to affect reaction with slag. Such reactions are examined in Part II.National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant TP2011070800005).http://link.springer.com/journal/116632016-04-30hb201

Manganese alloys production : impact of chemical compositions of raw materials on the energy and materials balance

Abstract Please refer to full text to view abstrac

Thermal conductivity of solidified manganese- bearing slags-A preliminary investigation

Abstract -The thermal conductivity of slag is an important parameter in the design of furnace-containment systems based on freeze-lining technology. Literature indicates that the crystal content of a slag has a significant influence on its thermal conductivity. Industrial, rich, manganese-bearing slag was cooled at different rates to create samples with different microstructures. The coefficients of thermal conductivity of these samples were measured in a nitrogen atmosphere from room temperature to 990°C at 100°C intervals. The laser-flash measurement technique was used for this purpose. Follow-up investigations included XRF and XRD and modelling in FACTSage

Manganese alloys production : impact of chemical compositions of raw materials on the energy and materials balance

Refer to abstract in full-tex