Investigation of Molten Metal Infiltration into Micropore Carbon Refractory Materials Using X-ray Computed Tomography

Abstract

The lifetime of a blast furnace (BF), and, consequently, the price of steel, strongly depends on the degradation of micropore carbon refractory materials used as lining materials in the BF hearth. One of the major degradation mechanisms in the BF hearth is related to the infiltration and dissolution of refractory materials in molten metal. To design new and more resilient materials, we need to know more about degradation mechanisms, which can be achieved using laboratory tests. In this work, we present a new investigation method of refractory materials infiltration resistance. The designed method combines a standard degradation test (hot metal penetration test) with X-ray computed tomography (XCT) measurements. Application of XCT measurements before and after molten metal infiltration allows observing changes in the micropore carbon refractory material’s microstructure and identifying the elements of the open pore structure that are crucial in molten metal infiltration.

Design, Manufacturing and Properties of Refractory Materials

“…Stec et al [4] used the innovative technique of corrosion testing combining hot metal penetration with subsequent X-ray computed tomography to investigate the microporous carbon refractory lining dedicated to blast furnace hearth walls. The results showed the volume percentage of permeable pores and metal inclusions of 2.5% and 3.2%, respectively, with their respective maximum sizes of 410 µm and 843 µm.…”

X‐ray Computed Tomography Characterization of Slag Crust and the Effect of Bubbles and Metallic Iron in Slag on Heat Transfer to Copper Stave

“…As a nondestructive 3D inspection method, XCT has been widely used to measure the 3D structure of materials such as refractory, steel, and coke. [12][13][14][15] The 3D structure of copper cooling stave slag crust was characterized by XCT, and the spatial structure and distribution of internal metallic iron and pores were obtained. Different models were used to study the effects of metallic iron and air bubbles on thermal conductivity.…”