1. Refractories for Iron and Steel Plant

Refractories are the essential lining materials for working interfaces and backup zone of furnaces during manufacturing of iron and steel, in specific sequential and consecutive operation of forming, holding, mixing and transporting hot metal, liquid steel and slag. Despite refractory-metal direct interactions, refractory has to successively experience high temperature and corrosive environment through flues, stack or shaft and ducts. In this context, this chapter deals with the classification and description of acidic, neutral and basic refractories for different environment and application zones for iron- and steel-making processes. Prior to considering the refractories, recent market trend, designing parameters including predominant mechanical and thermal behaviour are explicitly discussed to provide a better insight of the subject. Modern class of both shaped and unshaped refractories is highlighted starting from raw materials to installation practice. Refractory corrosion mechanism influenced by blast furnace slag, and primary and secondary steel-making slag, is analysed in order to understand and develop next-generation refractories.