Document XR0QXn5dqe6L5VXK701wNaEER

Read how REFRASIL tape cuts melt shop costs Over 800 F environment Wrapped wiih REFRASIL tape, motor leads on an overhead crane are protected from heat well over 800 F and flames at the Basic Oxygen Shop of the Ashland Works of Armco Inc. The 240-ton crane is utilized to charge the furnaces and to move the ladle filled with molten slag when fur naces are tapped. Old problem A longtime problem has been vulnerability of the crane electrical lead from the limit switch to the motor itself. This lead supplies power to the motor that oper ates the lifting movement of the crsne. The electrical lead is subject to radiant heat from the BOM vessel and to direct flame and smoke when charging. When the furnace is charged the molten pig iron is 2400-2500 F. The lead, directly above where the pig iron is poured, is subject to a tempera ture estimated at 800 F. Mill practice has been to replace leads and wrap them with asbestos about every ihree weeks. When heat degraded the asbestos, the lead itself would burn, causing the motor lo shut down. When the electric motor lead failed, it required a maintenance team 9 man-hours at a cost of $12.50 per man-hour about three hours to replace the lead and rewrap it. This "delay time" costs over $850 per hour in lost produc tion. New solution, big savings During engineering evaluation the same crane motor lead was wrapped with two layers of REFRASIL tape. Although the cost of REFRASIL tape was 5 to 6 times that of the asbestos wrap, the REFRASIL wrapped lead has now been in service over 9 months and is still in good condition. Eliminating "delay time" every 3 weeks has resulted in a saving of more than $12,000. REFRASIL textile is an amorphous silica in a con tinuous filament fiber. It stands up in continuous use at temperatures to 1800 F when initial devitrification begins but will not melt or vaporize until tempera tures exceed 3100 F. For information, write HITCO Materials Division, 1600 W. 135th St.. Gardena, California 90249. Tele phone (213) 321-8080. Armco. the Armco Tntngit and HITCO trademark of Armco Inc.. MiOOitiowr.. Onto REFRASIL traoamark Of HITCO. ARMCO V 8005 1702 lHI /MD-4076 10M C* krlhe in UiA. PRODUCED BY FORD