11. Modern Refractory Practice for Clean Steel

Ductility facilitates reforming but elastic modulus provides the strength of steel. It all depends on constituents and phases in steel. The previous discussion emphasizes steel production is a multi-step process that has to pass through the exhaustive environment and thus possibilities of inclusions despite targeted compositions. This drawback reduces the steel performance and therefore modern amenities demand clean steel for an extensive range of applications. An excellent choice of new class of modern refractory is required to avoid contamination and maintain desired properties of steel. Detailed discussion concentrated on probable inclusions by refractories, the stability of refractory oxides to produce clean steel, low carbon-containing refractories through the adoption of nanotechnology like using nano-carbon and graphene. Magnesia–alumina–graphite refractories and spinel refractory are highlighted in view of the carbon reduction in a ladle and continuous casting refractories to make clean steel. Several operational features and refractory choice of large tundish including hydrogen pickup reduction in steel through non-aqueous resin-bonded dry-vibrating mass (DVM) is discussed.