*Article* **Comparative Analysis on the Corrosion Resistance to Molten Iron of Four Kinds of Carbon Bricks Used in Blast Furnace Hearth**

**Cui Wang <sup>1</sup> , Jianliang Zhang 2,\*, Wen Chen <sup>3</sup> , Xiaolei Li <sup>3</sup> , Kexin Jiao <sup>2</sup> , Zhenping Pang <sup>3</sup> , Zhongyi Wang <sup>2</sup> , Tongsheng Wang <sup>3</sup> and Zhengjian Liu <sup>2</sup>**


**Abstract:** The corrosion resistance to molten iron of four kinds of carbon bricks used in blast furnace hearth were investigated to elaborate the corrosion mechanism through the macroscopic and microscopic analysis of carbon bricks before and after reaction and thermodynamic analysis. The macroscopic analysis showed that brick A had the lowest degree of corrosion and highest uniformity at different heights, attributing to its moderate carbon content of 76.15%, main phases of C, Al2O<sup>3</sup> , SiC, and Al6Si2O<sup>13</sup> (mullite), and lower resistance to molten iron infiltration, etc. The microscopic analysis showed that all the carbon bricks had more and larger pores than the original carbon bricks. The phenomena of the iron beads adhering to carbon brick and iron infiltration were observed between the interface of carbon brick and molten iron. In addition, the obvious corrosion process was presented that the carbon matrix was broken and peeled off during the iron infiltration process. For the carbon brick being corroded, the dissolution of carbon was the predominant reaction. The higher the carbon solubility of the molten iron, the easier the corrosion on the carbon brick. Al2O<sup>3</sup> and SiC enhanced the corrosion resistance to molten iron of carbon bricks, and SiO<sup>2</sup> could react with carbon to form pores as channels for the penetration of molten iron and increase the corrosion on carbon bricks. A higher graphitization degree of carbon bricks was beneficial to lessen their corrosion degree. The corrosion on carbon bricks by molten iron could be attributed to three aspects: carburization, infiltration, and scouring of molten iron. The carburization process of molten iron was the main reaction process. The molten iron infiltration into the carbon bricks facilitated the dissolution of carbon and destroyed the structure and accelerated the corrosion of the carbon bricks. The scouring of molten iron subjected the iron–carbon interface to interaction forces, promoting the separation of the exfoliated fragmented carbon brick from the iron–carbon interface to facilitate a new round of corrosion process.

**Keywords:** carbon brick; corrosion resistance to molten iron; carburization; iron infiltration
