Abstract: A slag conditioner for electric arc furnace steel production comprising a carbonate-containing material with the balance being a reducing agent that comprises a reducing element that is easily oxidized in an exothermic reaction. The slag conditioner may further include carbonaceous material and/or an MgO-containing material. The slag conditioners may be in particulate, pellet, or briquette form. Also, a method of conditioning the slag in an electric arc furnace where steel in being produced, the method comprising introducing the particulate or pellet slag conditioners into the slag or into an interface between the slag and the molten metal or charging the briquette slag conditioners into the top of the furnace.

Abstract: A slag conditioner containing MgO, carbon or a filler and a binder is mixed and formed under pressure to produce aggregates which can have the form of a briquette. The slag conditioner is used to improve the operating performance and refractory life in steel melting furnaces. A slag conditioner comprising by weight a mixture and 2% to 25% binder for bonded agglomerates or larger particles of said mixture, the mixture comprising: 20% to 90% burned aggregates comprised of particles less than 8 mm of which at least 30% is 0.2 mm or greater and containing between 35% and 94% MgO; up to 50% slag-making carbonaceous or other additive; and up to 50% light burned magnesite.