5 Key Factors Behind Ladle Shroud Cracking

5 Key Factors Behind Ladle Shroud Cracking

Crack Formation

Thermal shock cracks show up a lot in high-temperature furnace linings and steel ladles. These parts go through fast heating and cooling many times. When the temperature changes too quickly, the refractory grows or shrinks more than it can handle. If the material is brittle, especially under 1100°C, cracks form easily. Big parts, uneven heating, and outside forces make cracking worse. Changes in the material’s structure can also raise the risk.

·        Common scenarios for thermal shock cracking:

1.      Ladle shroud preheating with fast temperature rise.

2.      Steel pouring with sudden molten metal exposure.

3.      Quenching or cooling steps in steelmaking.

4.      High-temperature furnace linings in steel, cement, glass, and ceramics.