Abstract

The Nodal Wear Model (NWM) constitutes a working tool that may be employed to study the processes of differential corrosion in the Pierce-Smith converter (PSC) with the aim of achieving significant improvements in duration and productivity of the diverse lining alternatives that may be used. Both knowledge of the wear mechanisms as well as the definition of the corrosion equations are necessary to apply the NWM to the PSC. By means of the NWM, the outputs of corrosion in the tuyere zone of the PSC may be interpreted. The present paper analyzes the wear mechanism for thermal spalling. An equation is proposed which, as well as justifying the damage occasioned in the refractory bricks, it can also be used in the development of new designs.