Ceramic Fiber and the Development of Insulating Technology

The ceramic fiber business of Shinnikka Thermal Ceramics Corporation began in March 1984 when its Sakai Works (then Nippon Steel Chemical Sakai Works) started production of ceramic fibers after several years of preparatory arrangements. The continuous reheating furnace having all-ceramic fiber lining, high thermal efficiency and low thermal inertia that was adopted for the plate mill (put into operation July 1986) of Kimitsu Works of Nippon Steel led to the birth of Shinnikka Thermal Ceramics, and the subsequent expanded use of Shinnikka’s thermal ceramics in steelmaking processes is a real milestone in the growth of the company. In November 2007, Shinnikka Thermal Ceramics launched fullscale production of its environment-friendly product “Bio-Soluble Fiber” (trade name: Superwool). Since then, the company has been pressing ahead with the development of markets for the product. This paper outlines the development of ceramic fiber-based heat insulating technology for the steel industry. It also discusses the possibility of expanding the use of Superwool in the steel industry.