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MMK reaches new record resilience for steelmaking unit lining

Dec. 20,2018 - Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works has achieved a new recordindicator for the resilience of the refractory lining of

the main arch of thetwohearth furnace at the electric steel smelting shop. Refractories, whichface the internal surface of a furnace, withstood 1,321 melts. The previoushighest indicator (1,265 melts) was set just three months ago. An increase inthe numbers of

melts per lining supports higher output, reduces operationalcosts and increases production efficiency by saving refractories and

reducingthe costs of repair work.
The record became possible as a result of hard work by MMK’s steelmakers toimprove steel smelting technology and provide necessary maintenance to therefractory lining. To increase the resilience of refractories, steelmakers mustensure that liquid metal remains within the units for an optimal period of timeand carry out necessary preventive measures. The quality of the refractories isof

great importance and is requested from suppliers. Additional factors thataffect resilience include the quality of the lining

implementation, which iscarried out by specialists in repairing metallurgical furnaces from the OSKcompany; and the gunning of the main roof -the application of a specialshotcrete made from refractory powder to working refractory lining increasesits

strength and improves resilience.

A system of motivation and material incentives engages technological personnelin increasing lining resilience: for each additional melting that exceeds thenumber prescribed by guidelines, funds are allocated to be distributed amongthe site workers.

Thetwo-hearth furnace is capable of producing up to eight melts per shift. Theannual capacity of THF No. 32 is about 1 million tonnes of steel.