BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VEVENT
ORGANIZER;CN=ESTAD 2023:mailto:info@metec-estad.com
LOCATION:Room 16a
SUMMARY:Technology evolution of sustainable taphole clay design
DESCRIPTION:Taphole clay as a key element in the proper functioning of the ironmaking process as it protects the ceramic hearth over time from damage by pig iron or slag. Using poor quality clay can be detrimental and leading to higher costs and early maintenance of BF hearth. Markets needs for sustainable products were another important factor for this evolution.
Development of a binder for taphole clays which does not contain Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon and Formaldehyde was a game changer in the industry that strives towards sustainable future, which is available worldwide with performance at least equivalent to standard product, allowing cure speed of the mass to be adjusted and short inter-cast times. However, in some rare cases, we observed a hardening of the taphole mass in the plugging machine - this phenomenon required further development. 
Performing analytics and tests to reduce this hardening phenomenon, correlated to the high temperature in the mud gun, by developing a binder-based Formaldehyde and PAH free-tech with a higher boiling temperature. By increasing the boiling temperature of the binder, we succeeded in shifting the setting of the binder to higher temperatures, which solved the hardening problem in a way that exceed our expectations. 
Our methodology includes study and field trail of the implemented approach with an objective to replace the binding system without changing the formulation of the taphole mix concluding that this evolution of the binder has a positive influence on the length of the tap hole, duration of the casting and the specific consumption of the taphole clay in grams per ton of hot metal. Application in the field shows increased performance relative to traditional binder systems and does not require any reworking of the THC formulation, it can be easily substituted currently supplied materials with positive impact on health & environment.  
CLASS:PUBLIC
DTSTART:20230615T092000
DTEND:20230615T094000
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR