The ash in molten condition gets absorbed in the pores of the refractory lining of the furnace and causes its spalling due to different co-efficient of expansion/contraction of the refractory and the
It is abrasive to the coal pulveriser (ie.g. ball mill) and the combustion chamber
The ash retains the sulphur & phosphorus and thus affects the quality of products in metallurgical furnace apart from increasing the slag volume. Besides, it may fuse and stick to the boiler tubes