CP-8

The reduction of fossil fuel use and subsequent CO₂ emissions is causing industrial processes to be re-engineered, bringing about different refractory liner materials needs. This session will discuss drivers for change; such raw material availability, environmental concerns (including the need to reduce CO₂ emissions), controlling energy loss in processes, liner materials for evolving industrial process, or the need for relevant information on refractory material properties or processes contained by refractory materials. Examples of process changes include but not limited to:

• Iron and steelmaking practices shifting from the blast furnace/basic oxygen furnace process route to a direct reduced iron/electric arc furnace route.
• Other carbo-thermal/non carbo-thermal processes are being studied for potential CO₂ reductions, along with their possible impact on containment material needs. This would include processes for the production of Al, Cu, glass, and/or cement.
• Some industrial chemical processes, such as gasification used to produce synthesis gas for chemical and power generation, are being evaluated for lower temperature processing or for the use of non-fossil energy carbon sources (such as plastics). Many of the process changes will need a re-evaluation of refractory containment materials for material performance/service life.