Use of a heat insulating molded body for isolation of molten metal against the atmosphere or against a metallurgical vessel

A method of providing thermal isolation of the production of steel, the method comprises

• providing an unfired, refractory plate (1), the plate (1) including a binding agent matrix (2) containing at least one set, permanent inorganic binding agent and aggregate materials which aggregate materials are incorporated into the binding agent matrix (2), the plate being produced according to the following steps:
• a) preparing a mixture having a composition comprising the aggregate materials and the at least one, permanent inorganic binding agent,
• b) filling the mixture into a mold,
• c) compacting the mixture by means of uniaxial pressing to form a “green” plate,
• d) removing the “green” plate from the mold, and
• e) letting the “green” plate set to form the plate (1),
• wherein the aggregate materials comprise at least 60 wt. % of aggregate grains of biogenic silicic acid, relative to the total dry mass of the aggregate materials,
• wherein the plate comprises a cold flexural strength from 1.0 to 9.0 MPa according to DIN EN 993-6:1995-04,
• wherein the plate comprises a softening point from 1200 to 1650° C., determined with a hot stage microscope according to DIN EN 51730:
• 2007-09;
• and
• using the plate to cover molten steel and/or an ingot (14) solidifying from the molten steel;
• wherein the plate provides for the thermal isolation of the molten steel and/or of the ingot (14).