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Recent developments in electric arc furnace refractories

Find out about the latest developments to decarbonise refractory linings

Join Dr. Suresh Srinivasan, Refractories Engineer at the Materials Processing Institute, who will be presenting at the Sustainability in Steel, SUSTAIN Conference 2026

Venue: Cardiff Marriott Hotel Cardiff

Date: Tuesday 10th March – Wednesday 11th March

Details and registration:

www.sustainsteel.ac.uk/conference-26/overview

PRESENTATION - Recent developments in EAF refractories for sustainable steelmaking

Global EAF steelmaking is growing significantly, driven by a key strategic shift across the industry to reduce its carbon footprint; however, the current pace of steel decarbonisation and sustainable technologies are not sufficient to meet the requirements to align with global 1.5°C scenarios.

Electric Arc Furnace's (EAF) are crucial for reducing CO2 emissions; however, challenges remain because of the harsh nature of the steelmaking process meaning that refractory performance is important to improve, deliver energy efficiency, reduce waste, and cut emissions.

The demand for cleaner steel has driven the development of refractories with lower carbon content or no carbon. Traditional refractories, such as magnesia-carbon (MgO-C) bricks are widely used in EAFs, but they use carbon as a key component; this carbon source contributes to the overall CO₂ emissions.

In the recent years, EAF refractories for sustainable steelmaking have focused on improving material properties, optimising furnace operations through advanced modelling, and exploring new compositions, including low-carbon and slag-based materials. These innovations aim to extend refractory life, reduce energy consumption, and minimise the environmental impact of EAF steel production.

This presentation reviews the recent developments on thermomechanical behaviour of MgO-C bricks in EAF refractories, the failure mechanisms and strategies for optimising refractory design to enhance performance and extend service life.

About the SUSTAIN Conference 2026

Find out more about the cutting-edge research and sustainable practices for the steel industry.

The SUSTAIN Conference 2026 will bring together university researchers, industry experts and policymakers to discuss the latest research into the technologies shaping the future of steel production.

4 March 2026