2. Refractory degradation in the steel industry

2.1 The importance of observation in the improvement process

In this section, we will illustrate the degradation that can be observed on refractories after use and demolition, during expert appraisal or "post-mortem" analysis. Observing used refractories is an essential starting point for the refractor to improve their performance.

There are several reasons for taking this approach. It may be a long-term objective to optimize the choice of refractories and obtain an increase in service life. More often, the objective is shorter-term, following incidents caused by unexpected and rapid refractory degradation. Such counter-performances occur frequently, particularly in steelworks, and are usually the result of changes in metal production and refractory use conditions....