Some special features of open-hearth furnace bottoms

Conclusions

The peculiar feature of the formation of hearths fettled with fine-grained chromemagnesite powder compared with those fettled with metallurgical magnesite powder is the formation of a more clearly expressed crystalline concretion of periclase as a result of the fine grain size composition of the powder and the presence in it of grains of chromite which help the process of hearth formation.

Wear of the hearths made of chromemagnesite and magnesite powders is due mainly to one and the same factor — destruction of the crystalline concretion of periclase under the action of iron-silicate melt in the slag. The process of destruction of the hearths made from chromemagnesite powder occurs more slowly owing to the more complete formation of the concretion of crystals of periclase in these hearths, which is probably the basic cause of the higher resistance.

Investigation of samples of hearth taken from the site of an accidental escape of metal through the bottom, showed that they contained crystals of iron spinel which is probably due to the local supersaturation of the hearth with iron oxides.