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Why is a hot heel left in an induction furnace after tapping molten steel?
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In an induction furnace, a hot heel is left in the crucible after tapping primarily to decrease the thermal shock on the refractory lining caused by the water-cooled induction coil.1
By retaining a portion of the molten metal, the furnace lining is protected from the rapid temperature fluctuations that occur during the charging and melting of cold scrap, thereby extending the service life of the refractory material.1