What's New

Optimising energy consumption, lowering pollutant emissions – the steel and metal industry faces the challenge of reducing both its energy use and environmental impact. Refractory linings are a decisive factor in the performance and energy footprint of high-temperature furnaces. The internationally operating refractory manufacturer RATH is increasingly focusing on lightweight refractory linings – including the newly developed, non-classified polycrystalline high-temperature insulation wool ALTRA® 1500C that has already demonstrated strong performance in the steel and metal industry and will be presented at AISTECH in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania, USA) from 4 to 6 May.

Especially in energy-intensive high-temperature processes, which are typical of the steel industry, lightweight linings represent a forward-looking alternative or a complement to conventional linings. The lower heat capacity of lightweight refractory materials results in superior insulation performance. This significantly reduces heat loss through furnace walls and ceilings. In addition, their lower mass allows for shorter heating-up and cooling-down cycles. Another compelling benefit is the simplified installation process and reduced labour required for maintenance, repairs, and replacements.

ALTRA® 1500C: Maximum service life and highly efficient thermal insulation

Innovative high-temperature wool products are playing an increasingly important role in lightweight refractory linings. RATH has consistently led the advancement of high-temperature insulation materials through intensive in-house research and development. Among the latest innovations is a product that provides optimal support for the steel and metal industry: ALTRA® 1500C – a further development of the proven polycrystalline wool of the ALTRA® brand and the latest all-rounder in the series.

ALTRA® 1500C is a genuine alternative to other high-temperature wool products: it offers all the advantages of polycrystalline fibers, but is more cost-effective. This newly developed, non-classified polycrystalline high-temperature insulation wool is optimized for use at temperatures up to 1500 °C and is available in both blanket and module form. In addition to its excellent cost-efficiency, its standout benefits include maximum service life and outstanding thermal insulation performance. Moreover, ALTRA® 1500C is fully compatible with other proven grades in the ALTRA® family – ALTRA® 72, for applications involving exceptionally high temperatures, and ALTRA® 97, when high chemical resistance is required.

Successful application in steel and metal companies

Thanks to its carefully engineered physical properties, ALTRA® 1500C offers excellent energy efficiency and serves as an ideal complement to commonly used refractory products such as bricks and castables. ALTRA® 1500C is especially well suited for applications involving rapid heating and cooling cycles and is available in various densities and dimensions.

ALTRA® 1500C has already proven its value in the steel and metal industry through its successful use at several companies in Germany and Austria, where it has been applied in a variety of furnace types, including bogie hearth forging furnaces, chamber forging furnaces, rolling mill furnaces, and walking beam or rotary hearth furnaces.