A slag pot — also called a slag ladle or slag bucket — is a heavy-duty cast steel vessel used to receive, transport, and pour molten slag from steelmaking furnaces and cement kilns. Operating under extreme thermal loads, slag pots must combine high-temperature strength with impact and thermal shock resistance. LIMING manufactures slag pots in a wide range of capacities for the steel and cement industries.
A slag pot is one of the most demanding steel castings in heavy industry. During operation, it is filled with molten slag at temperatures exceeding 1400°C, transported by slag carrier vehicles, and either dumped at a slag yard or tipped into a granulation facility. The slag pot must withstand not only the extreme temperature of the molten slag but also the rapid thermal cycling from repeated filling and emptying, impact loads during dumping, and the corrosive and abrasive nature of slag materials.
Slag pots are typically of bucket or oval shape with a trunnion mounting system that allows them to be lifted and tilted by a slag pot carrier or overhead crane. The internal surface may be plain or lined with castable refractory depending on the application. LIMING's slag pots are manufactured from high-grade cast steel using advanced sand casting techniques, with particular attention to thick-section integrity and resistance to thermal fatigue cracking.
In the steel industry, slag pots are used at blast furnaces, basic oxygen furnaces (BOF), and electric arc furnaces (EAF) to handle molten slag generated during iron and steel production. In the cement industry, slag pots are employed in slag granulation systems and for handling liquid slag from specialized thermal processes. LIMING produces slag pots in various capacities from 10 cubic meters up to 50+ cubic meters.
The selection of material grade for a slag pot is critical to its service life. The material must balance strength at elevated temperatures with resistance to thermal fatigue and impact:
| Material Grade | Key Properties | Temperature Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZG230-450 (Carbon Cast Steel) | Good castability, moderate strength | Up to 1200°C intermittent | Light-duty slag handling, smaller pots |
| ZG270-500 (High-Strength Cast Steel) | Higher tensile strength and toughness | Up to 1400°C intermittent | Standard steel mill slag pots |
| ZG35CrMo (Chrome-Moly Alloy) | Superior thermal fatigue resistance, creep strength | Up to 1500°C intermittent | Heavy-duty continuous service, large pots |
For standard steel mill slag pot applications, ZG270-500 provides the optimum balance of mechanical properties and cost. For the most demanding continuous duty — particularly slag pots that handle basic oxygen furnace slag at very high temperatures — ZG35CrMo alloy steel is recommended for its superior high-temperature strength and resistance to thermal fatigue crack propagation.
Heavy casting expertise, proven metallurgy, and rigorous quality assurance for demanding slag handling applications.
In-house foundry with 30,000-ton annual casting capacity. Experienced in producing heavy-section steel castings up to 60+ tons.
Optimized pot geometry with smooth radii and transitions to minimize stress concentration in thermal cycling service.
UT, MT, dimensional inspection, and chemical analysis on every pot. Full heat treatment and stress relief documentation provided.
Slag pots delivered to steel mills and cement plants in over 50 countries. Full export packaging and logistics support included.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Slag Pot / Slag Ladle / Slag Bucket |
| Material Options | ZG230-450, ZG270-500, ZG35CrMo (cast steel) |
| Manufacturing | Sand casting → Heat treatment → Stress relief → Machining |
| Capacity Range | 10 m³ – 50+ m³ (custom) |
| Wall Thickness | 80 mm – 200 mm (depending on size) |
| Operating Temperature | Up to 1500°C (molten slag) |
| Unit Weight | 10 – 60+ tons |
| Trunnion Type | Integral cast or bolted trunnion design |
| Heat Treatment | Normalized + tempered; stress relief annealing |
| Refractory Lining | Optional — castable refractory for extended service |
| Inspection | UT, MT, PT, dimensional CMM, visual inspection |
| Lead Time | 60-120 days (depending on size and quantity) |
Every slag pot produced under our ISO 9001 quality system with comprehensive process control.
Wood or resin patterns constructed to exact pot geometry with shrinkage allowance and risers for sound casting.
Molten steel poured into sand molds with controlled pouring temperature, rate, and solidification sequence.
Normalizing and tempering to achieve target mechanical properties; stress relief to minimize residual stresses.
CNC machining of trunnion bores, mounting surfaces, and lifting lugs to exact specified tolerances.
Full UT, MT, dimensional verification, and hydrostatic testing (where specified) before release.