Improve Slag Formation with Lime Injection

Proper slag formation protects the refractory from arc damage, concentrates and transfers heat to the liquid steel, and traps inclusions and metal oxides. It’s critical in producing quality steel, and lime injection technologies can play an important role in good slag formation.

• Improved Slag Chemistry:
  Lime injection technologies enable more accurate lime dosing, leading to better slag chemistry. By precisely adjusting the addition of lime and dolime, you can achieve optimal slag composition, reduce impurities and enhance overall performance.
  
  
• Foaminess Control:
  High calcium quicklime supports foaminess throughout the heat, while dolomitic quicklime helps to optimize slag conditions for foaming. The magnesium oxide (MgO) from dolomitic lime is especially important to the foaming characteristics of the slag. Lime injection systems enable more precise process control to maintain consistent foaminess.
  
  
• Metallurgical Benefits:
  Lime injection improves the dissolution rate of lime, promotes better slag consistency, and improves dephosphorization efficiency. Overall, this can lead to an improved metallic yield.
  
  
• Extending Refractory Life:
  Magnesium content in dolomitic quicklime prevents melt-throughs in the refractory and helps extend refractory life of the furnace. With lime injection, smaller sized dolime can be delivered directly into the bath requiring less energy to melt the material into solution.

For a deeper look at the ways in which lime injections technologies can impact slag formation and increase other efficiencies in steel production, hear from Mike Sella, Director of Steel Strategy.