Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
CONTINUOUS SMELTING AND FIBER SPINNING PROCESS

Abstract:

Described herein is a method of forming a smelting byproduct that can be formed into an inorganic fiber, the method comprising: a) introducing silicomanganese slag and a smelting additive into a submerged arc furnace comprising a collection zone; b) smelting the silicomanganese slag into a silicomanganese metal and a smelting byproduct, whereby the silicomanganese metal settles to a lower portion of the collection zone and the smelting byproduct gathers in an upper portion of the collection zone due to density differential between the silicomanganese metal and the smelting byproduct; c) flowing the smelting byproduct from the collection zone from a first outlet; and d) flowing the silicomanganese metal from the collection zone from a second outlet.