Abstract: In the manufacture of refractory bricks containing CaO, a mixture is formed of a refractory composition of a material containing CaO and a binder composition, and bricks are moulded from the mixture. To avoid hydration of the CaO and avoid softening of the bricks on heating up, the material containing CaO is selected from burned lime, burned dolomite and mixtures and the binder composition is present in an amount in the range 1 to 10% by weight based on the weight of the mixture and consists mainly of a thermosetting novolak type phenol resin composition and an anhydrous solvent consisting of at least one organic solvent present in an amount of less than 40% by weight based on the weight of the binder. The solvent composition is chosen to be of a chemical nature such that, at least during mixing of the refractory composition and the binder composition, it substantially does not react with the CaO.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a magnesia-carbon brick comprising the steps of:a. preparing a mixture comprising:1. burned magnesite2. carbon3. binder solution comprising3.1 precondensed novolak resin3.2 solvent for the novolak resin4. a hardener for the resinb. pressing a brick from the said mixture.

Abstract: A gas-transmitting wall element for a metallurgical vessel having a refractory lining is described which is subject to low wear, is reproducible and makes unnecessary continuous blowing of gas through it. The element has an outer sheet metal box, open at one end, and a refractory filling in the box comprising at least one brick spaced from the closed end of the box, into which a gas inlet opens. The brick contacts the metal sidewalls of the box and has grooves to allow the gas to pass to the open end of the box.

Abstract: A method of producing steel by the LD process using a metallurgical vessel by blowing gas through an oxygen lance onto the top of the molten metal bath in the vessel for a period of time and during the final portion of the period blowing nitrogen directly into the metal bath through a gas-transmitting wall element. The duration of the final portion is from 0 to 2 minutes. The rate of gas supply through the wall element during the final portion is 5 to 8 Nm.sup.3 /h per ton of metal in the vessel.This is a division of application Ser. No. 440,401 filed Nov. 9, 1982, pending.

Abstract: The basic wear-lining of a steel converter is made of refractory material at least partly composed of burnt magnesite. Maintenance is performed by spraying refractory material onto this lining or by "slagging-in". The effect of this maintenance procedure, in terms of the duration of the lining, are improved if the particles of the magnesite component of the wear-lining contain on average more than 61/4 percent monticellite. Material of this kind has not in the past been found suitable for a wear-lining.