8th International Congress on Science and Technology of Ironmaking - ICSTI 2018

In 2008, after the Blast Furnace#1 shut down, was identified an abnormal phenomenon in its hearth which required great team effort for proper recovery of the refractory and resumption of operation. At the time, it was aimed to extend the campaign in five years. In this paper, it is described the general aspects of the equipment, the situation in his hearth, actions taken and the current hearth's condition, after further shut down due to the worsening economic crisis in Brazil. As main conclusions: (i) the abnormal condition found in the Blast Furnace#1's hearth was not associated with the refractories' quality, that had preserved their properties; (ii) the repair done, in order to extend the blast furnace campaign in five years, was extremely efficient; and (iii) the Blast Furnace#1's operation between 2010 and 2015 was properly done contributing to the preservation of the hearth, which did not show brick’s wear in that period.