Disclosed herein is a mud material comprising a refractory raw material, an organic binder, and a curing agent, wherein part or all of the organic binder is a novolac-type phenol resin, part or all of the curing agent is a methylene donor, and wherein the methylene donor is at least one selected from the group consisting of hexa(methoxymethyl)melamine and hexamethoxymethylolmelamine.

Disclosed herein is a mud material comprising a refractory raw material, an organic binder, and a curing agent, wherein part or all of the organic binder is a novolac-type phenol resin, part or all of the curing agent is a methylene donor, and wherein the methylene donor is at least one selected from the group consisting of hexa(methoxymethyl)melamine and hexamethoxymethylolmelamine.

A method of sealing a slag drain in a direct smelting vessel is disclosed. Also disclosed are a method of maintaining a slag drain channel and a direct smelting vessel with a slag drain channel that extends through a sleeve of refractory material installed in the direct smelting vessel. The method for sealing the slag drain includes locating a pre-formed refractory material at an inlet end of the slag drain channel so that it is exposed to a molten bath contained within the direct smelting vessel and sealing the slag drain channel with sealing material downstream of the pre-formed refractory material.

A method of sealing a slag drain in a direct smelting vessel is disclosed. Also disclosed are a method of maintaining a slag drain channel and a direct smelting vessel with a slag drain channel that extends through a sleeve of refractory material installed in the direct smelting vessel. The method for sealing the slag drain includes locating a pre-formed refractory material at an inlet end of the slag drain channel so that it is exposed to a molten bath contained within the direct smelting vessel and sealing the slag drain channel with sealing material downstream of the pre-formed refractory material.

A blast furnace operation method comprising a blast furnace to start up smoothly and perform operation after suspending air blowing by removing as much as possible residual coke that remains inside the furnace during suspension of air blowing and becomes an obstacle to discharging solidified matter. In this blast furnace operation method, air blowing is suspended with the height of a surface of a raw material-filled layer immediately above a blast-furnace tuyere reduced below the height of an upper end of a blast-furnace bosh and then air blowing is resumed. After air blowing into the blast furnace is suspended, oxygen or oxygen and a combustible gas are blown in through a burner inserted into a taphole to combust coke remaining inside the furnace and reduce the volume of residues inside the furnace, and after new coke is charged to a region where the volume decreased, air is blown through a tuyere.

A device is provided for inserting a refractory block (20) into a taphole structure (10) of a metallurgical vessel, in particular a basic oxygen furnace (BOF). The refractory block (20) is carried by a mounting unit (25) and having a proximate end (26), which can be introduced into the taphole. A distal end (27) with locking elements (28), which can be coupled to a locking plate (31) of the vessel, is disposed at the outside of the taphole (21) of the vessel (11). The refractory block (20) can be introduced into the taphole structure (10) until the locking elements (28) of the mounting unit (25) can be attached to and coupled with the coupling head (30) with a manipulator. This mounting unit (25) can be respectively uncoupled also with the manipulator, when the refractory block (20) is mortared and fixed in the lining (12), whereby the mounting unit (25) can be decoupled and removed solely out of the taphole (21). That enables the refractory block replacement and the gunning of refractory material from the inside of the furnace more easily.

The present invention relates to delivering sand to a metal melting furnace to fill a tap hole. The swiveling sander moves into position through a horizontal arcing movement. The Swiveling Sanding Systems comprises a swiveling sander with slag plunger. The Swiveling Sander swivels from a home position into a sanding position in order to add sand to a metal melting furnace at the same time as the slag plunger moves out of the way. After delivering sand, the swiveling sander swivels back to home position while the slag plunger also moves back to home position followed by the plunger clearing any slag.

The present invention relates to delivering sand to a metal melting furnace to fill a tap hole. The swiveling sander moves into position through a horizontal arcing movement. The Swiveling Sanding Systems comprises a swiveling sander with slag plunger. The Swiveling Sander swivels from a home position into a sanding position in order to add sand to a metal melting furnace at the same time as the slag plunger moves out of the way. After delivering sand, the swiveling sander swivels back to home position while the slag plunger also moves back to home position followed by the plunger clearing any slag.

An oxygen lance assembly that is at least capable of moving towards or away from the object to be lanced, said assembly including a supply of gaseous oxygen and metallic tubing wherein the oxygen supply is continuously feed through the said tubing when the lance is in use, and the said lance assembly includes a reel, and the said metallic tubing is coiled upon and carried by the said reel, and when in use, the metallic tubing is continuously uncoiled from the said reel as the said metallic tubing is consumed during use.

An oxygen lance assembly that is at least capable of moving towards or away from the object to be lanced, said assembly including a supply of gaseous oxygen and metallic tubing wherein the oxygen supply is continuously feed through the said tubing when the lance is in use, and the said lance assembly includes a reel, and the said metallic tubing is coiled upon and carried by the said reel, and when in use, the metallic tubing is continuously uncoiled from the said reel as the said metallic tubing is consumed during use.