Electric arc furnaces (EAFs) are core equipment in modern short-process steelmaking, and their lining materials directly affect furnace life, energy consumption, and production stability. Magnesia bricks, due to their excellent high-temperature performance and resistance to chemical erosion, have become an indispensable key refractory material in EAF linings.
Magnesia bricks for EAFs typically use high-purity fused magnesia ή sintered magnesia as the main raw material, with an MgO content generally between 88% and 97%. Their most prominent feature is their strong high-temperature resistance, with a maximum operating temperature exceeding 1800℃, enabling them to withstand long-term exposure to arc radiation, high-temperature molten steel, and repeated erosion by slag.
In actual operating conditions, the EAF furnace environment is highly alkaline. Magnesia bricks, being alkaline refractory materials, have good compatibility with highly alkaline slag, effectively resisting chemical erosion by components such as CaO and FeO, and significantly reducing the erosion rate of the furnace lining. Furthermore, high-quality EAF magnesia bricks possess high bulk density and low apparent porosity, resulting in a dense structure that enhances resistance to slag penetration and molten steel erosion.
Considering the frequent start-ups and shutdowns and rapid temperature changes characteristic of electric arc furnaces (EAFs), EAF magnesia bricks typically undergo optimized grain gradation and the introduction of appropriate binding phases during production. This improves their thermal shock resistance, reduces spalling and cracking, and extends their service life.
Maestrails are widely used in critical components of electric arc furnaces, such as the furnace walls, bottom, slope, and taphole. When used in conjunction with magnesia-carbon bricks ή magnesia-calcium bricks, performance optimization can be achieved in different areas, reducing overall refractory material consumption. As steelmaking processes increasingly demand high efficiency and low cost, high-performance EAF magnesia bricks will play an even more crucial role in electric arc furnace refractory linings.