Wear-resistant plates have extensive and significant applications in the steel mill industry. The following is a detailed introduction:

 I. Raw material processing link

1. Raw material storage yards and bunkers

    - In steel mills, various raw materials such as iron ore, coal, limestone, etc., are piled up in open-air storage yards or stored in bunkers. During the loading, unloading, accumulation, and discharging of raw materials, friction and impact will be generated on the ground of the storage yard and the inner walls of the bunkers, which are prone to cause wear.

    - For example, installing wear-resistant plate linings on the inner walls of the bunkers, such as using high-strength high-manganese steel wear-resistant plates or wear-resistant ceramic composite plates, can effectively resist the friction of raw material particles, prevent the bunker walls from being worn through, maintain the structural integrity of the bunkers, ensure the smooth storage and discharging of raw materials, avoid problems such as raw material leakage caused by bunker damage, extend the service life of the bunkers, and reduce maintenance costs.

    - For open-air storage yards, sometimes wear-resistant steel plates are laid as ground materials to enhance the wear resistance of the ground and facilitate the frequent operation of equipment such as loaders on it.

2. Belt conveyors

    - Belt conveyors are important equipment for raw material transportation in steel mills and are used to transport different raw materials from storage yards to ironmaking, steelmaking, and other workshops.

    - Idlers: Idlers support the conveyor belt and bear the weight of the raw materials and the friction when the conveyor belt operates. Using wear-resistant steel tubes or wear-resistant plates covered with wear-resistant rubber on the surface to make idlers can reduce the wear of the idlers, extend their service life, ensure the smooth operation of the conveyor belt, and reduce the probability of faults such as conveyor belt deviation and material spillage caused by idler damage.

    - Rollers: There is a large friction between the drive rollers and redirecting rollers and the conveyor belt during the operation of driving the conveyor belt. Inlaying or covering the surface of the rollers with wear-resistant plates (such as ceramic rubber composite wear-resistant plates) can not only enhance the grip of the rollers on the conveyor belt to ensure the normal transmission of the conveyor belt but also prevent the wear of the rollers themselves and ensure the efficient and reliable transportation of raw materials by the belt conveyor.

    - Conveyor belts: When transporting raw materials such as iron ore with high hardness and sharp particles, covering a layer of wear-resistant plates on the surface of the conveyor belt or choosing a conveyor belt with a wear-resistant coating can enhance the wear resistance of the conveyor belt, reduce damage such as cuts and wear, improve the durability of the conveyor belt, and reduce the replacement frequency.

 II. Ironmaking link

1. Blast furnaces

    - Furnace linings: Inside the blast furnace during the ironmaking process, it has to withstand high temperatures, high pressures, and the scouring, friction, and chemical reactions of materials such as iron ore, coke, and fluxes. Although the furnace linings mainly use refractory materials, in some key parts, such as the furnace throat and the lower part of the furnace body, which are prone to wear, wear-resistant plates will be used for local reinforcement or as linings. For example, some specially made wear-resistant plates made of high-temperature-resistant and wear-resistant alloy steels can resist the wear of materials to a certain extent, assist in protecting the furnace lining structure, extend the service life of the blast furnace, and ensure the stable operation of the ironmaking process.

    - Distributing chutes: The distributing chutes are used to evenly distribute the furnace charge in the blast furnace. During the rotation and distribution process, they will be subject to strong scouring and wear from the furnace charge. Using alloy wear-resistant plates with excellent wear resistance to make the distributing chutes or surfacing wear-resistant materials on the chute surface to form a wear-resistant layer can enable the distributing chutes to maintain good distribution functions under harsh working conditions, reduce problems such as uneven distribution caused by wear, improve the efficiency and quality of ironmaking.

    - Tuyere devices: Tuyeres are the parts that blow hot air into the blast furnace. Components such as tuyere small sleeves and medium sleeves, in addition to being scoured by high-temperature hot air, will also be subject to wear caused by material splashes in the furnace. Using copper-based alloy wear-resistant plates with good wear resistance and high-temperature resistance to make the tuyere-related components can enhance their wear and high-temperature resistance, reduce the frequency of damage, ensure that the hot air can be stably and continuously blown into the blast furnace, and maintain the normal progress of ironmaking production.

2. Sintering machines

    - Pallet grate bars: The grate bars of the sintering machine pallets are used to carry the sintering raw materials and allow air to pass through for the sintering reaction. During the sintering process, the grate bars have to withstand high temperatures as well as the weight and friction of the sinter, and are prone to deformation and damage. Using nickel-chromium alloy wear-resistant plates with high temperature resistance and high wear resistance to make the grate bars or performing wear-resistant coating treatment on ordinary grate bars can improve the service life of the grate bars, ensure the smooth progress of the sintering process, reduce the downtime and increased costs caused by frequent replacement of damaged grate bars.

    - Single-roll crushers: The sintered sinter needs to be crushed by a single-roll crusher. Components such as the hammer heads and linings of the crusher will come into contact with the high-temperature and high-hardness sinter and generate strong friction and impact. Using wear-resistant plates to make the hammer heads, such as high-manganese steel wear-resistant plates, which can produce a work hardening effect when impacted and improve the wear resistance; the linings made of wear-resistant plates can protect the crusher body, reduce wear, extend the service life of the equipment, and ensure that the sinter is crushed to the appropriate particle size to meet the raw material requirements of blast furnace ironmaking.

 III. Steelmaking link

1. Converter

    - Furnace linings: During the steelmaking process in the converter, the interior has to withstand the scouring of high-temperature molten steel and slag as well as the mechanical impact and wear caused by frequent charging and blowing operations. In the parts of the converter lining bricks that are prone to wear (such as the trunnion area, slag line area, etc.), metal wear-resistant plates are used for composite lining, such as magnesia-carbon wear-resistant plates, which combine the high-temperature resistance of refractory materials and the wear resistance of metals, helping to protect the furnace lining, reduce the increase in the frequency of converter maintenance caused by the rapid erosion of the furnace lining, extend the campaign cycle of the converter, and ensure the continuity of steelmaking production.

    - Oxygen lances: The oxygen lance is a key equipment for blowing oxygen into the converter. The nozzle and lance body parts will be subject to the scouring and erosion of molten steel and slag as well as the action of high temperatures, oxidizing atmospheres, and high-speed oxygen flows, and will be affected. Using special alloy steel wear-resistant plates with oxidation resistance and wear resistance to make the oxygen lance nozzles and some lance body parts, or performing surface wear-resistant coating treatment on them, can improve the service life of the oxygen lance, ensure the oxygen blowing effect, and stabilize the process operation of converter steelmaking.

2. Electric furnaces

    - Furnace walls and bottoms: When the electric furnace is used for steelmaking, the furnace walls and bottoms have to withstand high-temperature arc radiation, the scouring of molten steel and slag, and the impact when scrap steel is charged. Using high-temperature-resistant and wear-resistant graphite composite wear-resistant plates or alloy steel wear-resistant plates for masonry or laying in these parts can enhance their ability to resist wear and erosion, maintain the normal operation of the electric furnace, reduce the maintenance time and cost increase caused by furnace body damage, and improve the efficiency and safety of electric furnace steelmaking.

    - Electrode chucks: Electrode chucks are used to hold the electrodes and conduct current. During the frequent lifting and lowering of electrodes and the passage of current, they will be affected by high temperatures, mechanical wear, and arcs. Using copper alloy wear-resistant plates with good wear resistance to make electrode chucks can improve their service life, ensure the stable holding of electrodes and the good conduction of current, and ensure the normal power supply and operation of electric furnace steelmaking.

3. Ladle

    - Ladle walls and bottoms: The ladle is used to hold and transport molten steel. During use, the molten steel and refining slag will scouring and erosion on the walls and bottom surfaces of the ladle. Using refractory materials combined with wear-resistant plates (such as alumina-magnesia-carbon wear-resistant plates) for masonry on the walls and bottom surfaces of the ladle can improve the wear resistance of the ladle to a certain extent, extend the service life of the ladle, reduce the refractory consumption of the ladle, reduce the cost of steelmaking, and at the same time ensure the quality stability of the molten steel during transportation and refining.

    - Nozzles: The nozzles are the channels through which the molten steel flows out of the ladle. Whether it is a sliding nozzle or a stopper-type nozzle, it will be subject to the scouring and erosion of the molten steel and the thermal stress caused by temperature changes during contact with the molten steel. Using zirconium wear-resistant plates or composite ceramic wear-resistant plates that are wear-resistant and erosion-resistant to make nozzle components can improve the durability of the nozzles, ensure the smooth and controllable outflow of molten steel, and play an important role in the precise control of the steelmaking process.

 IV. Rolling link

1. Heating furnaces

    - Furnace bottom roller tables: Before rolling, the billets need to be heated to the appropriate rolling temperature in the heating furnace, and the furnace bottom roller tables are responsible for transporting the billets. The furnace bottom roller tables in a high-temperature environment have to bear the weight of the billets and the friction when the billets move, and are prone to problems such as wear and deformation. Using wear-resistant plates made of high-temperature-resistant and wear-resistant alloy steels to make the roller bodies of the furnace bottom roller tables or performing wear-resistant coating treatment on the roller bodies can enable them to maintain good rotation performance under high-temperature and heavy-load working conditions, ensure that the billets can pass through the heating furnace smoothly and stably, and provide qualified raw materials for the subsequent rolling process.

    - Slides: The slides in the heating furnace are used to support the billets. When the billets slide on the slides, friction will be generated on the slides. Using wear-resistant ceramic composite plates or high-temperature-resistant alloy steel wear-resistant plates as slide materials can reduce the wear of the slides, prevent poor billet operation caused by slide damage, and ensure the normal order of billet transportation in the heating furnace.

2. Rolling mills

    - Rolls: The rolls are the core components of rolling and directly contact the high-temperature billets and cause plastic deformation. The surface of the rolls will be worn due to the friction with the billets and the action of the rolling force, affecting the rolling accuracy and product quality. Using surface-strengthened wear-resistant rolls, such as rolls formed by surfacing wear-resistant alloy materials to form a wear-resistant layer, or rolls made of wear-resistant materials such as high-chromium cast iron, can improve the wear resistance and service life of the rolls, ensure the dimensional accuracy and surface quality of the rolled products, and meet the rolling requirements of different specifications of steel.

    - Guide and guard devices: The guide and guard devices are used to guide the billets to accurately enter and exit the rolls. During this process, the guide and guard devices will have friction and collision with the billets. Using wear-resistant plates to make the guide plates, guard plates, and other components of the guide and guard devices, such as using high-manganese steel wear-resistant plates, their good toughness and wear resistance can ensure the accuracy and durability of the guide and guard devices when guiding the billets, reduce quality problems such as steel surface scratches and dimensional deviations caused by the wear of the guide and guard devices, improve the efficiency and product qualification rate of rolling production.

3. Cooling beds

    - Chains and chain plates: The cooling beds are used to cool the rolled steel. The chains and chain plates of the cooling beds will be subject to the friction and certain impact of the steel during the dragging and moving process of the steel. Using wear-resistant plates made of wear-resistant alloy steels to make the chains and chain plates can improve their wear resistance and strength, avoid problems such as chain breakage and chain plate deformation, ensure that the cooling beds can stably cool the steel, ensure the cooling quality of the steel and the smooth progress of subsequent processing.

    - Tabletops: The tabletop of the cooling bed is in direct contact with the steel. When the steel slides and rolls on it, friction will be generated on the tabletop. Using wear-resistant ceramic composite plates or wear-resistant steel plates as the cooling bed tabletop materials can reduce the wear of the tabletop, prevent quality problems such as scratches on the steel surface caused by tabletop wear, and maintain the normal use function of the cooling bed.

4. Straightening machines

    - Straightening rolls: The straightening machine performs the straightening operation on the steel through the straightening rolls. The straightening rolls will be worn during the contact with the steel and the application of the straightening force. Using alloy steels with good wear resistance or straightening rolls with surface wear-resistant treatment can ensure the accuracy and service life of the straightening rolls, enable the steel to obtain a good straightening effect, meet the appearance quality requirements of the steel, and provide guarantee for the delivery of the finished steel products.

 V. Finished product processing and transportation link

1. Finished product warehouses

    - In the finished product warehouses where finished steel products are stored, operations such as stacking, lifting, and handling of the steel products will cause certain friction and collision on the ground and storage racks and other facilities. Laying wear-resistant steel plates on the ground of the finished product warehouses or using wear-resistant plates to reinforce the key stressed and easily worn parts of the storage racks can reduce the wear of the facilities, extend their service life, facilitate the orderly storage and management of the steel products, and ensure the storage safety and quality of the finished steel products.

2. Lifting equipment

    - Hooks and slings: The hooks and slings used for lifting and transporting finished steel products will frequently contact the steel products and be subject to the friction and extrusion of the steel products during the lifting and transportation process. Using alloy steel wear-resistant plates with good wear resistance to make the key parts of the hooks or performing wear-resistant coating treatment on the slings can improve the wear resistance and fatigue resistance of the hooks and slings, prevent problems such as wear and cracks caused by long-term use, ensure the safety and reliability of the lifting operation, and avoid safety accidents such as the dropping of steel products during the lifting process.

In conclusion, wear-resistant plates play an important role in every link of the steel mill industry. By improving the wear resistance of equipment and components, their service lives are effectively extended, maintenance costs are reduced, and the efficient, stable production and excellent product quality of steel mills are ensured.