A refractory lining structure for a metallurgical vessel is characterized by at least one elongated expansion joint formed in and extending through the surface of the working lining in a substantially vertical direction. The elongated expansion joint accommodates thermal expansion of the working lining in a metallurgical vessel such as, for example, a tundish during preheating for a continuous casting operation. The elongated expansion joint decreases crack formation, delamination, and spalling of the working lining from underlying back-up linings and/or safety linings in metallurgical vessels during preheating and use, while still facilitating metal skull removal after the completion of metallurgical operations.

The present invention relates to a heat-permeable tube which has a double-walled construction. The material of the interior wall contains ceramic matrix composite. The material of the exterior wall contains metal. The present invention further relates to the use of this tube in a rotary tube furnace and the use of the rotary tube furnace for thermal treatment of materials. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of a single-walled tube containing ceramic matrix composite as rotary tube.

The present invention relates to a heat-permeable tube which has a double-walled construction. The material of the interior wall contains ceramic matrix composite. The material of the exterior wall contains metal. The present invention further relates to the use of this tube in a rotary tube furnace and the use of the rotary tube furnace for thermal treatment of materials. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of a single-walled tube containing ceramic matrix composite as rotary tube.

A refractory unit for lining a high temperature vessel includes a refractory body formed from a refractory material. The refractory body has an upper main surface, a lower main surface, an inner surface configurable to face a high temperature chamber, an outer surface configurable to face away from the high temperature chamber, a first side surface and a second side surface. An elastic member is attached to the outer surface.

In a monolithic refractory, in terms of a proportion in 100 mass % of a refractory raw material having a grain size of 8 mm or smaller, an amount of Ca.sub.XSr.sub.1XAl.sub.2O.sub.4 (where, 0X0.5) is 0.5 mass % or more and 10 mass % or less, and a polyvalent metal salt of oxycarboxylic acid is 0.05 mass % or more and 1.0 mass % or less.

In a monolithic refractory, in terms of a proportion in 100 mass % of a refractory raw material having a grain size of 8 mm or smaller, an amount of Ca.sub.XSr.sub.1XAl.sub.2O.sub.4 (where, 0X0.5) is 0.5 mass % or more and 10 mass % or less, and a polyvalent metal salt of oxycarboxylic acid is 0.05 mass % or more and 1.0 mass % or less.

A ceramic liner can include a monolithic body having a surface portion and a bulk portion. The surface portion can have a thickness less than the total thickness of the monolithic body. The monolithic body can include an amorphous phase. The amorphous phase can be discontinuous. At least one member of the discontinuous phase can be embedded in the surface portion. The bulk portion can be substantially free of the amorphous phase. A method of forming a ceramic liner can include providing a furnace with a coating and a bulk material of the ceramic liner and heating the bulk material and the coating. In an embodiment, a coated lining form can be used to provide the coating. In a particular embodiment, the coating can be transferred to the bulk material from the coated lining form.

A ceramic liner can include a monolithic body having a surface portion and a bulk portion. The surface portion can have a thickness less than the total thickness of the monolithic body. The monolithic body can include an amorphous phase. The amorphous phase can be discontinuous. At least one member of the discontinuous phase can be embedded in the surface portion. The bulk portion can be substantially free of the amorphous phase. A method of forming a ceramic liner can include providing a furnace with a coating and a bulk material of the ceramic liner and heating the bulk material and the coating. In an embodiment, a coated lining form can be used to provide the coating. In a particular embodiment, the coating can be transferred to the bulk material from the coated lining form.

Refractory anchoring devices include a main body and a mounting feature for mounting to a thermal vessel. The main body includes four anchor branch segments angled with respect to each other to form an X shape with four unenclosed cell openings, including two opposite triangular side openings and two opposite triangular end openings. In some embodiments, the main body further includes extension segments extending from and angled relative to respective branch segments to define two of the opposite openings as semi-hexagonal. Some embodiments include reinforcement segments extending from branch segments into openings, voids extending through branch segments, two anchor strips inter-engaged to form the four branch segments, and/or a single stud-welding stud for the mounting feature. Refractory anchoring systems and methods include an array of the refractory anchoring devices arranged and mounted so that the unenclosed openings of adjacent anchoring devices cooperatively form substantially hexagonal and rhombus shaped cells.

Refractory anchoring devices include a main body and a mounting feature for mounting to a thermal vessel. The main body includes four anchor branch segments angled with respect to each other to form an X shape with four unenclosed cell openings, including two opposite triangular side openings and two opposite triangular end openings. In some embodiments, the main body further includes extension segments extending from and angled relative to respective branch segments to define two of the opposite openings as semi-hexagonal. Some embodiments include reinforcement segments extending from branch segments into openings, voids extending through branch segments, two anchor strips inter-engaged to form the four branch segments, and/or a single stud-welding stud for the mounting feature. Refractory anchoring systems and methods include an array of the refractory anchoring devices arranged and mounted so that the unenclosed openings of adjacent anchoring devices cooperatively form substantially hexagonal and rhombus shaped cells.