The behavior of slag penetration into MgO refractory was investigated by combiningi n-situ X-ray observation with microstructural analysis of the samples after penetration experiments.The following results are obtained: The slag penetrates rapidly into the refractory,reacting with MgO particles in the refractory.The slag penetrates unevenly into the refractory with uneven pore size in a path like a tree,firstly along the main path(large pore),and then extending to the branch path
(small pore),while evenly into the refractory with even pore size.The rate of slag penetration
increases with increasing pore radius of the refractory,T.Fe concentration in the slag and
experimental temperature,and with decreasing the slag basicity (C/S ratio).In the case of the
10 mass% Al203-bearing slag,the rate of slag penetration is less than that of the Al203-free slag in the initial stage.The penetration of the 10 mass%Al203-bearing slag into the sample with the apparent porosity of 31 % stopped after reaching23mm in height under the present experimental
conditions, which was much smaller than that of the Al203-free slag.In the initial stage of penetration,the penetration height is proportional to the square root of penetration time,and the penetration behaviors of the slag can be qualitatively explained based on a capillary model. The penetration of the Al203-bearing slag is remarkably suppressed by the formation of MgO-FeO-Al203 spinel caused by the reaction of Al203 and FeO in the penetrated slag with MgO particles and MgO dissolved from the refractory.