Trough and Runners refractory
Al₂O₃-SiC-C lining for the blast furnace iron-flow channel
FerrumX builds Al₂O₃-SiC-C trough and runner linings around its own in-house silicon carbide. The lining carries molten iron at ~1450°C and extends trough campaign life up to 2.5× versus alumina-only linings.
What It Is · Where It’s Used
The lining that carries molten iron to the ladle
Al₂O₃-SiC-C trough and runner refractory forms the channels that move molten iron and slag from the taphole to the ladle. FerrumX builds it around in-house silicon carbide so the erosion-resistant phase is tuned in every mix.
What is trough & runner refractory?
It is the Al₂O₃-SiC-C lining that forms the channels carrying molten iron and slag from the taphole to the torpedo ladle or casting bay. The three-phase matrix — alumina for body, silicon carbide for erosion and oxidation resistance, carbon for thermal shock — is engineered to survive continuous scouring and repeated thermal cycling.
Where is it used?
It lines every channel in the iron-flow path after the taphole — main trough, iron and slag runners, slag dam, swing spout and branch runners — each zone matched to its own erosion and temperature profile.
The Cost of Downtime
What a weak trough lining costs you
Trough relining is unplanned downtime. The lining decides how often you stop the iron flow, how much refractory you consume, and how much risk sits in the steel shell.
The cost of a short campaign
- Frequent relining stops the iron flow and cuts monthly output
- Shell overheating deforms the trough and raises breakout risk
- Slag adhesion slows cleanup and shortens the lining between casts
- Inconsistent mix quality gives variable, hard-to-plan lining life
How FerrumX answers it
- In-house SiC + tuned Al₂O₃-SiC-C matrix — up to 2.5× the life of alumina-only linings
- Water-cooled shell design keeps steel at ≤60°C and reaches one-generation furnace service
- Non-stick slag formula reduces adhesion and speeds maintenance
- Mix co-developed with the University of Science and Technology Beijing — repeatable, audited quality
Before / After
What changes when you upgrade the lining
Alumina-only lining
- Shorter campaign between relines
- Higher refractory consumption per tonne of iron
- Shell runs hotter, deforms sooner
- More unplanned stops for repair
FerrumX Al₂O₃-SiC-C
- Up to 2.5× the life of alumina-only linings
- Lower refractory use and less solid waste
- Steel shell held at ≤60°C for one-generation service
- Fewer stops — payback in under 8 months
Grade Matrix
Six ASC grades for six duty levels
From economical branch-runner castables to ultra-low-cement, high-SiC grades for the main trough — each ASC grade balances SiC content, cement level, and application method.
| Grade | Al₂O₃ (%) | SiC (%) | C (%) | Cement | Apply | Key Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASC-1 | 55–60 | 10–14 | 3–5 | Medium | Cast | Branch runner |
| ASC-2 | 60–65 | 12–16 | 4–6 | Medium | Cast | Iron runner |
| ASC-3 | 62–68 | 14–18 | 5–7 | Low | Cast/Ram | Slag runner |
| ASC-4 | 65–70 | 16–20 | 6–8 | Low | Ram | Slag dam |
| ASC-5 | 68–72 | 18–22 | 7–9 | Ultra-low | Cast | Main trough |
| ASC-6 | 70–75 | 20–25 | 8–10 | Ultra-low | Cast | Main trough (severe) |
Typical physical properties across the ASC line: bulk density 2.4–2.9 g/cm³, permanent linear change at 1450°C×3h within ±0.3 to ±0.5%, and cold crushing strength ≥15 MPa (110°C×24h) rising to ≥25–40 MPa (1450°C×3h) by grade.
Zone Mapping
The right grade for every zone
Erosion and temperature rise from the branch runner to the main trough. We map each zone to its optimal ASC grade so the lining matches the duty.
Main Trough
Hottest and most erosive — ASC-5 / ASC-6 ultra-low-cement, high-SiC castables.
Slag Runner
High slag corrosion — ASC-3 low-cement cast or ramming mix.
Iron Runner
Continuous iron flow — ASC-2 medium-cement castable.
Slag Dam
Separates iron and slag — ASC-4 low-cement ramming.
Swing Spout
Movable, high-wear — ASC-5 castable for fast turnaround.
Branch Runner
Lower duty — ASC-1 economical castable.
Performance
What the lining does in service
Erosion resistance
High-strength refractory aggregate resists the scouring of high-temperature molten iron and extends overall durability.
Corrosion resistance
Carbonaceous materials and additives keep the mix chemically stable in the slag environment.
Non-stick slag
A smooth surface formula reduces adhesion of molten iron and slag, shortening cleanup between casts.
Easy casting
Good fluidity lets the castable form quickly by vibration, improving construction efficiency.
Long service life
With water-cooling and an optimized design, trough life more than doubles versus conventional linings.
Lower waste
Longer life cuts refractory consumption and solid waste, supporting lower-carbon yard operation.
Vertical Integration
In-house SiC, developed with university research
We make the silicon carbide that goes into the lining
Silicon carbide is the second pillar of every Al₂O₃-SiC-C trough mix. FerrumX runs 120,000 t/yr of in-house SiC capacity, so we control grain size, purity, and supply of the phase that gives the lining its erosion and oxidation resistance.
FerrumX develops its blast furnace trough castables together with the University of Science and Technology Beijing, combining refractory research with in-house SiC production for repeatable, audited quality.
SiC-Enabled Performance
120,000 t/yr
in-house SiC capacity
2.5×
alumina-only life via Al₂O₃-SiC-C synergy
4–7.5 t
single-cast iron throughput at ~1450°C
18–36 mo
inner lining life, payback under 8 months
Shell & Monitoring
Water-cooled shells + AI erosion cloud
We pair the lining with a water-cooled steel shell and predictive monitoring so the channel runs longer and safer.
Water-cooled shell
Embedded cooling keeps the steel shell at ≤60°C even under sustained ~1450°C iron flow — preventing shell deformation and extending campaign life to one generation of furnace service.
AI erosion cloud
Temperature sensors across the lining feed a 24-hour erosion-cloud map. AI analysis predicts wear and plans maintenance before a breakout risk appears.
Installation
Four steps to a commissioned trough
01
Prep & anchor
Clean the old lining, inspect the shell, and set anchors and expansion joints for the new mix.
02
Cast / ram
Place the ASC grade by vibration casting or ramming, matched to the zone’s duty and geometry. Key zones use prefabricated blocks for density.
03
Cure & bake
Controlled curing then gradual baking drives off moisture safely before first iron.
04
Cool & validate
Commission water cooling, validate shell temperature ≤60°C, and confirm first-cast performance.
Why FerrumX
What you get when you specify with us
In-house SiC
120,000 t/yr SiC capacity tunes the erosion-resistant phase in every mix.
Dual ISO certified
ISO 9001 quality and ISO 45001 safety, audited and repeatable.
3-phase synergy
Al₂O₃-SiC-C engineered for the exact erosion/oxidation profile of each zone.
Cooling design
Water-cooled shell specs keeping steel at ≤60°C under full iron flow.
AI monitoring
24-hour erosion-cloud coverage with predictive maintenance planning.
On-site support
Grade selection, installation guidance, and commissioning for qualified buyers.
Related: Silicon Carbide · Silicon Nitride Powder · Tap Hole Clay · SiC for Refractories · Metallurgical SiC
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
It is the Al₂O₃-SiC-C lining that forms the channels carrying molten iron and slag from the taphole to the torpedo ladle or casting bay. It must survive erosion, oxidation, and repeated thermal cycling.
Silicon carbide gives the lining high thermal conductivity, oxidation resistance, and erosion resistance. FerrumX’s in-house SiC lets us tune the second phase precisely, reaching up to 2.5× the life of alumina-only linings.
ASC-1 through ASC-6 are six duty levels. Branch and iron runners use lower SiC grades (ASC-1/2); the slag runner and slag dam use mid grades (ASC-3/4); the hot, erosive main trough uses ultra-low-cement high-SiC grades ASC-5/6. Selection follows each zone’s temperature and erosion profile.
Across the ASC line, bulk density runs 2.4–2.9 g/cm³, permanent linear change at 1450°C×3h stays within ±0.3 to ±0.5%, and cold crushing strength reaches ≥15 MPa after 110°C×24h and ≥25–40 MPa after 1450°C×3h, depending on grade.
With FerrumX Al₂O₃-SiC-C and proper water-cooling, trough inner linings typically run 18–36 months and pay back the installation cost in under 8 months.
The mix is formulated for a smooth surface that reduces adhesion of molten iron and slag, which shortens cleanup and lowers maintenance effort between casts.
Yes. We design water-cooled shells keeping the steel shell at ≤60°C and offer AI erosion-cloud monitoring with 24-hour coverage and predictive maintenance planning.
Four steps: surface prep and anchoring, casting or ramming, curing and baking, then water-cooling commissioning and first-cast validation. Key zones use vibration casting or prefabricated blocks for density and durability.
FerrumX develops its blast furnace trough castables together with the University of Science and Technology Beijing, combining refractory research with in-house SiC production for repeatable, audited quality.
Use the request form on this page. Tell us your furnace volume, trough geometry, cast rhythm, and current lining life — we return grade selection, cooling design, and installation guidance for qualified buyers.
Get Started
Specify your iron-flow lining with us
Tell us your furnace volume, trough geometry, and cast rhythm — we return the ASC grades and cooling design.
