Refractory clay bricks protect the furnace body in various ways in the steelmaking furnace, as follows:

I. Working layer protection

In the working layer of steelmaking furnace, refractory clay brick directly contacts high-temperature molten steel and slag, which plays the role of heat insulation and corrosion resistance. Clay brick has strong resistance to acid slag corrosion, and can effectively resist chemical corrosion of molten steel and slag. For example, in the working layer of ladle, clay brick can withstand the erosion and erosion of high-temperature molten steel, and prolong the service life of ladle.

II. Permanent layer protection

In the permanent layer of steelmaking furnace, refractory clay brick is used to build the basic structure of furnace body, which plays the role of heat insulation and support. Clay brick with permanent layer usually has high thermal shock resistance and thermal insulation performance, which can effectively reduce heat loss and protect the metal structure of furnace body.

III. Thermal shock resistance

The temperature of steelmaking furnace changes sharply during operation, and the thermal shock resistance of refractory clay brick enables it to withstand this temperature fluctuation without cracking. Its thermal shock resistance can reach 10-25 times (water cooling at 1100℃), which makes it perform well in steelmaking furnace.

IV. Erosion resistance

The chemical environment in the steelmaking furnace is complex, and the corrosion resistance of refractory clay brick makes it resistant to the corrosion of alkaline slag. With the increase of ALO content, its resistance to alkaline slag will also be enhanced. For example, in converters and electric furnaces, clay bricks can effectively resist the erosion of slag.

V. Economy and cost performance

Refractory clay brick is rich in raw materials, low in production cost and high in cost performance. Its price is 30-50% lower than other refractories, which makes it widely used in steelmaking furnaces.

VI. Repair and maintenance

Refractory clay bricks are also often used to repair damaged parts during the maintenance of steelmaking furnaces. For example, when the lining is corroded, clay bricks can be used for local repair to restore the integrity of the furnace body.

VII. Specific application areas

Converter: Clay bricks are often used in the working layer and permanent layer to protect the furnace body from high-temperature molten steel and slag.

Ladle: Clay bricks are often used in working layer and permanent layer to contain and transport high-temperature molten steel.

Tundish: clay bricks are used in the working layer and the permanent layer for uniform molten steel and convenient casting.

Through the above methods, the refractory clay brick has played an important role in protecting the steelmaking furnace, prolonging the service life of the furnace body and reducing the maintenance cost.