Protection Mechanisms for Blast Furnace Crucible Using Titanium Oxides

In modern steelmaking the duration of a working campaign for a blast furnace is related to the life of the crucible. Adding titanium oxide has been a frequent practice in the operation routines for modern blast furnaces, seeking the protection of the crucible walls, independently from its physical or chemical characteristics. These practices, as conventional operation of iron and steelmaking installations, present both advantages as well as undesirable consequences. The work proposes the incorporation of rutile (TiO2) or illmenite (FeO·TiO2) in the refractory matrix of the linings, as a practice that results in a protection of the crucible without altering, under any circumstance, the regular operation of the installation.