Steelmaking taphole slag retardant device

A plug configured for insertion into a taphole of a metal, refractory lined vessel during steel making, the plug comprising:

• a metal frustoconical body having a side conical wall, a closed small proximal end and an open large distal end thereof defining an essentially empty interior space;
• the side conical wall of the metal frustoconical body of the plug including at least three diagonal compression slits, each of the at least three diagonal compression slits extending from the open large distal end of the metal frustoconical body and extending toward the closed small proximal end of the metal frustoconical body;
• and the side conical wall having a center axis, with each of the at least three diagonal compression slits being non-parallel to the center axis so as to contract when received in the taphole;
• wherein each of the at least three diagonal compression slits are curved.