METHOD FOR PROTECTING THE VALVE OF A MOLTEN-METAL LADLE AND FACILITATING FREE OPENING THEREOF
Spout-filling compositions and a method for protecting and facilitating free opening of a spout valve of a ladle are disclosed. The spout-filling compositions may comprise an iron-based ilmenite sand. More particularly, the compositions may comprise ilmenite sand in combination with a quartz and/or carbon black and/or chromite and zircon. The compositions described herein may be placed in a ladle to insulate the valve from molten metal.
1 . A spout-filling mass comprising up to about 80% by weight ilmenite and up to about 20% by weight quartz.
2 . A spout-filling mass comprising up to about 40% by weight ilmenite, up to about 30% by weight of at least one of chromite and zircon and up to about 30% by weight of quartz.
3 . A spout filing mass comprising from about 50% HMC to about 100% HMC.
4 . A spout-filling mass comprising up to about 70% by weight HMC and up to about up to about 30% by weight of at least one of chromite and zircon.
5 . The spout-filling mass of claim 1 , comprising an additional about 0.4% by weight carbon black.
6 . A method for protecting and facilitating free opening of a spout valve of a ladle comprising:
providing the spout-filling mass of claim 1 , and
placing said spout-filling mass in a bottom of the ladle adjacent the valve.
7 . The spout-filling mass of claim 2 , comprising an additional about 0.4% by weight carbon black.
8 . The spout-filling mass of claim 3 , comprising an additional about 0.4% by weight carbon black.
9 . The spout-filling mass of claim 4 , comprising an additional about 0.4% by weight carbon black.
10 . The spout-filling mass of claim 5 , comprising an additional about 0.4% by weight carbon black.
11 . A method for protecting and facilitating free opening of a spout valve of a ladle comprising:
providing the spout-filling mass of claim 2 , and
placing said spout-filling mass in a bottom of the ladle adjacent the valve.
12 . A method for protecting and facilitating free opening of a spout valve of a ladle comprising:
providing the spout-filling mass of claim 3 , and
placing said spout-filling mass in a bottom of the ladle adjacent the valve.
13 . A method for protecting and facilitating free opening of a spout valve of a ladle comprising:
providing the spout-filling mass of claim 4 , and
placing said spout-filling mass in a bottom of the ladle adjacent the valve.
14 . A method for protecting and facilitating free opening of a spout valve of a ladle comprising:
providing the spout-filling mass of claim 5 , and
placing said spout-filling mass in a bottom of the ladle adjacent the valve.