In steelmaking processes, MgO-based refractories are widely used. Over time, these refractories need to be discarded. However, most steelmaking companies find it challenging to separate the refractories from impurities and lack the necessary equipment...
In steelmaking processes, MgO-based refractories are widely used. Over time, these refractories need to be discarded. However, most steelmaking companies find it challenging to separate the refractories from impurities and lack the necessary equipment for this task, resulting in landfilling. This practice incurs transportation and landfill costs and can lead to soil pollution. This study aims to recycle waste MgO-C refractories as a flux in steelmaking to reduce these costs and prevent soil contamination. To achieve this, we analyzed the composition of commercial EAF slag and
established a target EAF slag composition based on this data. We then calculated the mixing ratios required to use waste MgO-C refractories as flux.
We compared the composition, basicity, viscosity, and slag foam height of EAF slag made using only calcined dolomite and quicklime as flux with EAF slag made using waste MgO-C refractories. The study found that using waste MgO-C refractories as steelmaking flux was feasible, as it provided appropriate basicity, viscosity, and slag forming effects, making it applicable in actual steelmaking processes. Furthermore, using waste MgO-C refractories as flux could potentially reduce the costs of auxiliary materials like calcined dolomite and carbon additives.