ladle furnace
Quick Summary
A ladle furnace is a secondary steelmaking tool used to refine liquid steel after it has been tapped from a primary furnace. This process allows for precise adjustments to the steel's chemical composition and temperature, which is crucial for casting operations. Ladle metallurgy encompasses various treatments, including adding deoxidizers, slag formers, and alloying agents.12
The ladle itself is a large, refractory-lined container used for holding and transporting molten steel. Treatments performed in the ladle can include deslagging (removing slag), electrical or chemical heating, powder injection for desulfurization, and stirring with gas or electromagnetic fields. Ladle furnaces can also use electric arcs for heating, capable of increasing steel temperature by approximately 4°C per minute. Ladle lids are sometimes used to minimize heat loss during holding times.3451
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