Process for tapping a steel-making converter

A process for tapping a converter of a steel-making furnace which converter has a tap hole, which comprises (1) placing a stopper plug in the tap hole located at the upper part of a wall of the converter when said converter is in an upright position, said stopper plug comprising a refractory material, a fibrous substance and a binder and being elastic and capable of shrinking and deformation, said stopper plug being larger in diameter than the diameter of the tap hole;

• and (2) tilting the converter such that the molten steel therein contacts the stopper plug and exerts an increasing pressure on the stopper plug as the tilting proceeds, said stopper plug not being forced out of said tap hole until said stopper plug is completely covered with molten steel.