Case Study · Iron & Steel
Structural Steel High Emissivity Coating: Shaft Furnace Support Stops Warping at Minerva
| Industry | Iron & Steel |
|---|---|
| Asset | Shaft furnace steel support structure |
| Customer or location | Minerva, Ohio, USA |
| Products used | Emisshield M-2 |
| Headline metric | Service-life extension |
| Secondary metric | No warping at ~982°C |
| Also measured | No structural redesign |
The steel support structure of a shaft furnace in Minerva, Ohio was warping and sagging from exhaust flame impingement, and the production layout made redesign impractical. After grit-blasting to bare metal, the structure was coated with Emisshield M-2. It has remained in service without sagging or deformation.
01
What was the challenge?
Flame impingement from the exhaust was overheating the support steel; the plant needed a coating that would absorb the excess heat and re-radiate it away from the metal.
02
What was applied?
Grit-blast to bare metal, then Emisshield M-2. Operating at around 982°C, the coating absorbs radiant energy and re-radiates it into the plant atmosphere.
03
What were the results?
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Structural deformation | Warping, sagging | None; remains in service |
| Design changes | Redesign impractical | None required |
| Downtime | Threatened | Avoided |
Plant personnel report the coating continues to perform in the furnace's extreme conditions.
04
Why did it work?
A high emissivity surface sheds absorbed energy as radiation instead of storing it as metal temperature, keeping the steel below the point where it loses strength. See How Emissivity Works.
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