In the process of modern steel manufacturing, nozzle brick, as an important refractory, plays an indispensable role. It is not only related to the smooth casting of molten steel, but also directly affects the quality and production efficiency of castings. This paper will introduce the structure, function, material characteristics and application of Shuikou brick in steel industry in detail.

I. Definition and structure of nozzle brick

Nozzle Brick is a kind of refractory used to control the flow of molten steel, which is usually installed on the Pedestal Brick at the bottom of ladle. Its main function is as a channel for molten steel to flow from ladle into tundish or crystallizer. The structural design of nozzle brick is very important, which usually consists of an upper arc entrance and a lower straight pipe. The design of the arc inlet facilitates the insertion and extraction of the Stopper Head Brick, and at the same time reduces the resistance of molten steel flow; The straight pipe part is helpful to stabilize the flow rate of molten steel and ensure the smooth casting process.

II. Function and Importance of Shuikou Brick

Shuikou brick plays a core role in the process of steel casting. It not only needs to withstand the erosion of high-temperature molten steel, but also maintains the structural integrity during frequent opening and closing operations. The following are the main functions of nozzle brick:

Control the flow of molten steel: nozzle brick and plug brick are used together, and the flow of molten steel is controlled by moving the plug brick up and down. This accurate flow control is very important to ensure the quality of castings, and can avoid the overflow or insufficient flow of molten steel.

Reduce steel water pollution: high-quality nozzle brick can effectively prevent the chemical reaction between molten steel and refractories, thus avoiding steel pollution. This is especially important for the production of high-quality steel, because any impurities may lead to the decline of steel properties.

Improve production efficiency: the durability and stability of nozzle brick can reduce the replacement frequency, thus reducing the downtime in the production process and improving production efficiency.

III. Material Characteristics of Shuikou Brick

Shuikou brick is usually made of high alumina refractory, and its main component is aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), with the content between 40% and 75%. This material has the following characteristics:

High fire resistance: able to withstand high temperature above 1500℃, ensuring that it will not be melted or damaged during molten steel casting.

Good thermal shock resistance: Shuikou brick will undergo frequent temperature changes during use, and its good thermal shock resistance enables it to maintain structural stability under the conditions of rapid cooling and heating.

Excellent wear resistance and crack resistance: under the scouring of high-temperature molten steel, nozzle bricks need to have good wear resistance and be able to resist cracks caused by temperature changes.

Chemical stability: the material composition of nozzle brick makes it have little chemical reaction with molten steel and slag at high temperature, thus avoiding pollution to molten steel.

IV. Application of nozzle brick

Shuikou brick is widely used in continuous casting and die casting process in iron and steel industry. In the process of continuous casting, nozzle bricks are installed at the bottom of tundish for evenly distributing molten steel into crystallizer; In the process of die casting, the nozzle brick is installed at the bottom of the ladle to control the speed of molten steel flowing into the mold. No matter which process, the performance of nozzle brick directly affects the quality and production efficiency of castings.

V. Production and Quality Control of Shuikou Brick

The production of nozzle brick needs strict quality control system. From the selection of raw materials to the detection of finished products, every link needs to undergo professional inspection. In the production process, it is necessary to comprehensively test the dimensional accuracy, appearance quality, chemical composition and physical properties of nozzle bricks. For example, the detection of dimensional accuracy can ensure the close cooperation between nozzle brick and plug brick; The detection of chemical composition can ensure the fire resistance and erosion resistance of nozzle brick. In addition, manufacturers will provide customized services according to customers' needs, including the adjustment of size, chemical composition and technical specifications.

VI. Future Development of Shuikou Brick

With the continuous development of iron and steel industry, the performance requirements of nozzle brick are also improving. In the future, the development of nozzle brick will pay more attention to the high performance and environmental protection of materials. For example, develop new materials with higher fire resistance and erosion resistance, and reduce energy consumption and environmental pollution in the production process. In addition, with the introduction of intelligent manufacturing technology, the production and quality control of nozzle brick will be more intelligent and automatic.

VII. Conclusion

As a key refractory in steel casting process, nozzle brick's performance and quality directly affect the quality and production efficiency of castings. By continuously optimizing the material formula and production process, the performance of nozzle brick has been significantly improved. In the future development, the nozzle brick will continue to develop in the direction of high performance, environmental protection and intelligence, which will provide strong support for the sustainable development of the steel industry.