Properties and Performance of a Mud Gun Mass (Tap Hole Clay) with Respect to the Stable Application of the Product in Blast Furnaces

The new generation of blast furnaces have large volumes, operate at high maximum pressures, and increased blast temperatures. This has resulted in an increase in tapping rate, tapping temperature, and the duration of tapping. This has prompted changes in relation to material and application of refractories in cast house particularly in tap hole clays. The mud gun mass is prone to early erosion and therefore to obtain a trouble free cast, a good and strong tap hole mass with appropriate physical and chemical properties is required. The main physical need is to achieve trouble free tapping of hot metal, and for there to be a constant tap hole length during the tap hole opening operation, which usually takes an hour and ten minutes. Additionally there should be smooth flow of the hot metal and slag. The delivery speed of the hot needs to be as smooth as possible. These are physical requirements to protect the hearth of the blast furnace.