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[June 2004]
RHI Steel Ladle Performance Record in Romania
At ISPAT Sidex, an integrated steel manufacturer based in Galati, Romania, RHI Refractories and the local technical project team mutually achieved an all-time ladle performance record with 134 heats. The result is based on a brick lining concept without additional gunning maintenance.
Previous RHI trials resulted in an average performance close to 100 heats. RHI said in its announcement on 21 June 2004 that up to that point best single results of competitors' brick concepts had been 108 heats - combined with excessive gunning at the end of the campaign.
The lining concept at ISPAT contains the magnesia-carbon grades MAGRAFAL LC12 for the slag line and RUBINAL 93C for the side wall. In the bottom impact area the spinel-forming alumina-magnesia-carbon grade RADEX SMAC 5-2 is used.
ISPAT Sidex has an annual production of 4 million tons of flat steel. There is no ladle furnace in operation; the ladles are preheated up to 600°C. Due to a partial secondary treatment in VAD and RH-Degasser, the required BOF tapping temperatures are frequently close to 1740°C.
RHI said that taking into account these demanding process conditions for the refractory material, the ladle record showed an outstanding result.
ENDS