The frozen crust of steel, iron and slag that builds on the walls, bottom or mouth of a ladle, BOF or runner as the vessel empties and cools. A thin skull can protect the lining, but heavy skulls cut capacity, unbalance ladles and tear brick out when they are knocked loose. Deskulling, by machine or by careful burning, is a routine and risky job.
Ladle's carrying a heavy skull in the bottom, send it to the deskull station before it goes back on the cycle.
Also heard as
- skulling
- metal skull
- slag skull
Related terms
Slag line
Band of a ladle or furnace lining where the slag layer floats on the metal, usually the fastest-wearing zone.
Working lining
Innermost refractory layer in contact with the process, designed to wear and be replaced on a schedule.
Free open
Ladle that starts teeming the moment the slide gate opens, with no oxygen lancing needed.