Minteq International Inc.'s (MINTEQ's) proprietary lance technology delivers the ultimate calcium recovery, in combination with our world-class Pferrocal® calcium metal treatment wire

Through proprietary application equipment, superior product technology, and 20 years of experience, we provide the highest-quality calcium treatment at the lowest cost per ton of steel.
v This in turn provides the steel maker with the following benefits:

• Most efficient means of injecting calcium
• Maximum calcium recovery by delivering the solid core calcium metal wire deep into the steel ladle
• Improved and repeatable castability thanks to consistent recovery of calcium
• Lower cost per ton of steel treatment thanks to increased calcium recovery rates

MINTEQ's application-technology team custom designs the lance technology for each steel ladle site. The system is electro-mechanically controlled by PLC and can be integrated into the steel-making operation. This allows for enhanced equipment availability, quicker turnaround of steel ladles, and grade optimization via precision control.

• Technological Reasons for Lance Technology
• Recovery Comparison with Surface Feeders

This state of art technology is particularly applicable for thin slab casters. In this technology the benefits of powder lance injection are combined with those of cored wire whereby a submerged argon purged refractory lance is used to deliver calcium wire deep in the ladle.

Schematic Diagram of Calcium Wire Lance Injection Process

Calcium Critical Depth at Steelmaking Temperature

Because Calcium has a boiling point below steelmaking temperatures, it will vaporize when injected in the steel. As such the reaction window is very limited in time. By injecting Calcium deep in the ladle, the ferrostatic pressure is utilized to suppress the vaporization of calcium which results in calcium being present as a liquid rather than a vapor. This allows for a much larger reaction window.

The lance application results in extremely high, consistent calcium recoveries and the lowest treatment cost currently available.

Advantages

Solid Core

• Constant Ca filling
• Due to high ratio volume/surface minimal surface oxidation / hydration
• Long shelf life
• Minimal variability in recovery
• No metal powder hazard.

Results in

• Maximal Ca recovery
• Minimal variation on recovery
• Minimal Ca consumption
• Emergency stir-lance