In modern iron and steel industry, the application of refractories is very important, especially in the continuous casting process of iron and steel. As a special refractory, sleeve brick plays an indispensable role. It is not only an important part of steel casting process, but also a key factor to ensure the smooth production and product quality.

I. Definition and structure of sleeve brick

Sleeve brick is a hollow refractory tubular structure, which is usually used to wrap metal mandrel to protect it from direct corrosion by high temperature metal and slag. Its main function is to maintain the rigidity of metal mandrel, thus effectively controlling the stability of casting flow. The design of sleeve brick usually includes an outer layer of refractory material and an inner layer of heat insulation material. This structure can not only withstand the mechanical stress in high temperature environment, but also effectively reduce the heat transfer, thus prolonging its service life.

II. Materials and properties of sleeve bricks

The main component of sleeve brick is alumina (Al₂O₃), and its content is usually between 40% and 75%. This material has high fire resistance, good thermal shock resistance, excellent wear resistance and crack resistance. In addition, the sleeve brick also has good corrosion resistance, which can effectively prevent the corrosion of slag and high-temperature metals. These characteristics enable the sleeve brick to maintain stable performance in extremely harsh high temperature environment, and will not pollute the molten metal, thus ensuring the quality of steel products.

III. Application Scenario of Sleeve Brick

Sleeve bricks are mainly used in the continuous casting process of iron and steel industry. In this process, the sleeve brick is installed at the bottom of the ladle, which is closely matched with the nozzle brick and the plug brick to control the flow of molten steel together. When the casting flow needs to be turned on or off, the plug brick will contact or separate from the nozzle brick, while the sleeve brick will remain stable in the whole process, ensuring that the molten steel can flow out smoothly and form a uniform billet. The performance of sleeve brick directly affects the stability of casting flow, the quality of molten steel and the efficiency of the whole casting process.

IV. Production and Quality Control of Sleeve Bricks

The production process of sleeve brick needs strict quality control. From the selection of raw materials to the inspection of finished products, every link needs professional testing and evaluation. During the production process, quality inspectors will sample the products to ensure that each sleeve brick meets strict quality standards. Chemical analysis, physical performance testing and appearance inspection are all important links in quality inspection. In addition, the dimensional accuracy and surface quality of sleeve brick also directly affect its performance in practical application, so special attention should be paid to these details in the production process.

V. Customization and service of sleeve brick

With the continuous development of iron and steel industry, the demand for sleeve bricks is becoming more and more diversified. In order to meet the needs of different customers, sleeve bricks can be customized. Customers can customize their own sleeve brick products according to their specific requirements, such as size, chemical composition and technical specifications. In addition, some professional refractory manufacturers also provide comprehensive after-sales service, including product quality assurance, construction scheme guidance, usage training and so on. If the customer encounters quality problems during use, the manufacturer will negotiate compensation according to the actual situation to ensure that the interests of the customer are guaranteed.

VI. Future Development of Sleeve Brick

With the continuous progress of science and technology, the performance and application scope of sleeve bricks are also expanding. In the future, with the further development of high-temperature material technology, sleeve bricks are expected to maintain stable performance at higher temperatures and more complex environments. At the same time, with the improvement of environmental protection requirements, developing more environmentally friendly and energy-saving sleeve brick materials will also become the future development direction. In addition, with the application of intelligent technology, the production and quality control of sleeve bricks will be more accurate and efficient, thus further enhancing its application value in steel casting.

In a word, sleeve brick, as an important refractory, plays an irreplaceable role in steel casting. Its performance and quality directly affect the quality and production efficiency of steel products. With the continuous progress of technology and the constant change of market demand, the future development of sleeve brick will be full of infinite possibilities.