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By Mario González Ramírez

The safe transport of sour gas requires steels with enhanced hydrogen induced cracking (HIC) resistance. Centerline segregation bands of high hardness microconstituents and non-metallic inclusions are the heterogeneities usually linked to HIC failures in pipeline steels. Full-scale production heats of a new low Mn, Nb microalloyed steel were produced by different steel mills aiming at the application in sour gas environments. The new alloy design provides both effective strengthening and control of sulphide inclusions. Coil microstructure consisted of fine grained ferrite with a small volume fraction of uniformly dispersed eutectoid aggregates. Most importantly the microstructure was uniform in both the longitudinal and transverse directions and exhibited exceptional consistency. Samples from this steel were submitted to HIC testing according to NACE standards TM0284-2003 without any sign of cracking. The results, so far, confirm that this new alloy design provides the unique opportunity to economically produce a high strength pipe steel grade with improved sour service resistance for the linepipe industry.

Aug 8, 2018

By Gustavo Elói de Sá Lima

A estratégia de manutenção de locomotivas da VLI sofreu significativa modificação após a implementação de propostas de consultores americanos, baseadas principalmente, na execução de atividades fora de oficina, realizadas em estruturas chamadas de “Track Service”, estruturas as quais contam basicamente com uma vala para inspeção na parte inferior das locomotivas. Dessa forma, foi possível capturar diversos ganhos em custeio e redução de investimentos, como por exemplo o aumento de periodicidade entre manutenções preventivas e redução do projeto da nova oficina de Paulínia.

Oct 30, 2017

By Rafael Wilson Soares Ladeira

Realizar manutenções preditivas de forma cada vez mais assertiva é um dos benefícios da atual evolução dos sistemas produtivos industriais conhecida como Indústria 4.0. A Sotreq - revendedora Caterpillar - oferece um serviço de análise de fluidos a partir da coleta periódica para máquinas operantes em campo. Com os resultados das medições, especialistas atribuem às amostras um nível de criticidade, justificativas e recomendações. Neste trabalho propõe-se uma solução que aumentou a eficiência desse processo através da utilização de modelos de Machine Learning treinados com as análises já realizadas que automatizam a classificação e a geração do texto de diagnóstico para novas amostras. As predições do sistema foram consideradas bem sucedidas, com métricas de sensibilidade e especificidade acima de 88%.

Oct 30, 2017

By Matheus Jacon Pereira

RFID é uma das tecnologias impulsionados da Internet das Coisas, que está sendo utilizada em soluções com o intuito de aumentar a eficiência dos processos, melhorar o cumprimento de prazos, reduzir custos e aumentar receitas. A inovação com RFID na indústria de metalurgia, materiais e mineração está em um estágio inicial, mas em rápida evolução e adoção. Este trabalho utiliza uma metodologia de revisão integrativa para avaliar quais são os casos de sucesso de automação com RFID empregados neste setor. Ainda apresenta os principais tipos de RFID, usos e boas práticas de implementação, assim como, um levantamento dos trabalhos em revistas técnicas e cientificas nos últimos 10 anos sobre este assunto.

Aug 16, 2017

By Adriana da Cunha Rocha, Carlos Bruno Eckstein, Gabriela Ribeiro Pereira, Clara Johanna Pacheco, Elaine Felix da Silva, Raphael Silva de Araújo, Laudemiro Nogueira Junior, Luiz Henrique de Almeida

A composição química da camada de óxido formada durante operação em um forno de reforma a vapor por 70000 h em um aço inox resistente ao calor grau HP-Nb, foi analisada através da espectroscopia Raman confocal, com o objetivo de correlacionar as características químicas e morfológicas dos óxidos com os diferentes estados de envelhecimento. Os espectros Raman, adquiridos pontos aleatórios da camada de óxidos, revelam que os óxidos de Fe (-Fe2O3 e Fe3O4), bem como os óxidos mistos NiFe2O4 e NiFeMnO4 são as espécies predominantes no estado de envelhecimento I. Amostras envelhecidas dão origem a espectros característicos de Cr2O3, MnCr2O4, Fe3O4 e NiFe2O4, em consonância com estudos recentes reportados na literatura.

Oct 20, 2019

By Mário César Mantovani

The steel for gas turbine compressor discs (26NiCrMoV14.5) requires some mechanical properties like strength, impact, toughness, fatigue, and creep resistance in order to be used in such application. To achieve the properties required for the gas turbine compressor discs, the material should have very low contents of sulfur, phosphorus, antimony, tin and arsenic. The level of cleanliness should also be very high and this is possible by achieving low oxygen content keeping the deoxidation elements like silicon, manganese and even the aluminum in very low percentages. The main problem in refining such steel is to adjust a sufficiently low oxygen content to have a good desulfurization and at same time a good cleanliness without using silicon, manganese or aluminum as deoxidizers. Combination of initial selection material, steelmaking process control, forging sequence and heat treatment cycles can provide uniform mechanical properties throughout the gas turbine compressor discs. Villares Metals SA as a big player on special steels with complex process has been developing this kind of material for several years. The objective of this work is to show the process technology evolution involved in the production of this kind of steel under the discussed preconditions.

Aug 17, 2017

By Baoliang Xiao, Hui Pan, Yajun Hui, Kun Liu

The microstructure, properties, strengthening mechanism and work hardening mechanism of 600MPa grade high ductility hot-rolled sheet steel for automotive square tube were investigated by utilizing optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the microstructures of low C-low Mn-Nb and Ti microalloyed steel (Steel A) and high C-high Mn-Nb microalloyed steel (Steel B) are composed of ferrite and a small amount of pearlite. Compared with steel B, the size of ferrite and pearlite of steel A is finer, while the size of the second phase precipitates is larger. The mechanical properties of the two tested steels are similar before tube forming, except that the yield ratio of steel A is higher. Steel A has/exhibits significant work hardening after tube forming; the yield strength and tensile strength increase by 45 MPa and 26 MPa, respectively, while the elongation decrease by 6.0 percent. The yield strength and tensile strength of steel B increase by 22 MPa and 10 MPa, respectively, and the elongation decrease by 4.0 percent. The grain refinement strengthening is the dominant strengthening mechanism, accounting for 52.9 to 61.8 percent of the total yield strength; the solid solution strengthening is the second strengthening mechanism, accounting for 17.2 to 25.3 percent, while the precipitation strengthening and dislocation strengthening contribute little to the yield strength. The dislocation strengthening increase by 82 MPa of steel A after tube forming, which is higher than that of steel B. Therefore, steel B has a low work hardening rate that is more suitable for manufacturing automotive square tube for secondary tube forming.

Oct 1, 2019

By Rafael Sartim

A indústria siderúrgica possui aspectos ambientais associados ao seu processo produtivo ligados em grande parte à emissão de material particulado, efluentes líquidos e geração de resíduos. A emissão de material particulado ocorre durante diversas etapas do processo produtivo, cabendo a estes a aplicação de sistemas para o controle ambiental. Em especial, a planta de sinterização possui como característica emissões primárias ligadas à exaustão da máquina, e secundárias referentes aos sistemas de captações em linhas de peneiramento, retorno de finos e pontos de transferência de correias transportadoras. Para o tratamento das emissões secundárias, a ArcelorMittal Tubarão possui um sistema de despoeiramento. Em virtude de melhorias de processo e alterações na produção, o sistema necessita de uma maior vazão para atendimento à demanda atual. Neste contexto, este trabalho se propôs a avaliar e testar a técnica de supressão de pó em pontos de transferência entre correias transportadoras para verificar sua aplicabilidade. Como conclusão, constatou-se que esta técnica é aplicável em regiões específicas com bons resultados na redução de emissão visível. Além disso, o uso do supressor reduz a quantidade de captações necessárias ao sistema complementando o controle do atual sistema de despoeiramento.

Aug 16, 2017

By Ricardo José de Faria

As inúmeras aplicações das chapas grossas processadas por laminação de normalização motivaram a imediata implantação desse processo no novo laminador de chapas grossas da Gerdau Ouro Branco. Numa primeira abordagem, chapas grossas leves atendendo à norma norma EN 10025-2 S355 J2 foram obtidas através da laminação de normalização de um aço microligado ao NbTi. Apesar dos bons resultados então obtidos, seu coeficiente de segurança no atendimento aos requisitos de resistência mecânica não foram completamente satisfatórios. Por esse motivo, a liga anterior foi suplementada por uma adição de V. Isso permitiu atender aos requisitos desejados de maneira mais segura, garantindo o pleno atendimento aos clientes.

Oct 30, 2017

By Fábio Rogério do Carmo

O ar soprado é uma das principais utilidades responsáveis pelo processo de transformação do minério de ferro em gusa no Auto Forno. Para que ocorra o processo de redução o ar soprado é superaquecido nos regeneradores dos autos fornos a uma temperatura de 1.300°C. Este energético é fornecido na CSN-UPV pelos turbos sopradores da Central Termoelétrica nº 2 (CTE#2), área dos Motos Sopradores 1 e 2 e os turbos sopradores n°1 e 3 da CTE#1 que operam com a velocidade reduzida 24 horas soprando para atmosfera e consumindo vapor de 30Bar. Devido à obsolescência do sistema de ar soprado da CTE#1, alto custo de operação e risco para a segurança operacional, este trabalho apresenta o estudo do problema em questão, a metodologia utilizada para desativação do ar soprado da CTE-1 e a redução de custo.

Sep 25, 2017

By Fabio do Prado Verderano

A partir de corpos de prova de uma chapa de aço baixa liga NBR 6656 grau LNE 26, realizou-se a caracterização microestrutural, levantamento do perfil de dureza ao longo da espessura da chapa, ensaios de tração monotônicos, cíclicos de fadiga e análises fractográficas. Concluiu-se que, nas extremidades da espessura da amostra, o valor da dureza é maior, indicando que quando a chapa foi laminada as superfícies em contato com os rolos de laminação sofreram encruamento, aumentando a dureza nessa região. A microestrutura encontrada e o grau das inclusões presentes na amostra são compatíveis para o material, bem como as propriedades mecânicas monotônicas, que estão de acordo com a especificação. Por meio de ensaios de fadiga de baixo ciclo, encontrou-se uma boa correlação entre as propriedades monotônicas e cíclicas do material para a proposição da equação de Basquin, considerando-se dados seguros, quando utilizado os primeiros vinte ciclos do ensaio de fadiga para estabilização de cada corpo de prova. Verificando-se a seção transversal da fratura do corpo de prova, observa-se que o mecanismo de falha do material ocorreu a partir do aparecimento de trincas na interface ferrita-cementita com propagação transgranular até a fratura final.

Aug 17, 2017

By Renata Cristina Teixeira

The lubricant oil is a complex mixture of different basestocks and additives. Engine oils evolved from the use of pure mineral basestocks back in the early years of automotive industry to the advent of synthetic, fully formulated, low ash lubricants. This evolution was driven by a number of factors, such as new engine designs, extended durability needs, increased fuel economy needs, environmental concerns, feedstock prices and availability and legal issues. This paper uses technology prospecting on literature and patents databases to allow an investigation on the historical evolution of engine oils. Main basestocks (mineral, hydrotreated, polyalphaolefins, esters) and additives (antioxidants, antiwear, friction modifiers, detergents and dispersants) are characterized according to their research effort. Technology prospecting data is crosschecked against the evolution of engine oil classes, allowing an analysis of how the main drivers push the development of lubricant oil quality. A research effort was identified in late 1990’s until mid-2000’s and related to the adoption of chemical limits for lubricants. Different patterns for the articles and patents publication account for the high value technological knowledge has in this industry. Technology prospecting is seen as a useful methodology for the understanding and forecast of lubricant technology movements.

Jul 31, 2018

By Gilmar Zacca Batista

The present work is a part of a comprehensive program that aims to evaluate the girth welding procedures for heavy wall API 5L X65 pipes produced for sour service applications. This article describes the results of toughness, strength and sour resistance of girth welds produced with different welding consumables. The methodology applied included girth welds production with GTAW process for root pass using ER70S-6 consumable and FCAW process for filling passes using E71T- 1CJ and E91T1-GM-H4 consumables. Mechanical tests of Charpy, CTOD, tensile, hardness and stress corrosion cracking were also performed. The E71T-1CJ resulted in a girth weld with tensile and yield strength around 7% lower than the pipe. However, according to the papers analyzed at this study, a value up to 10% of undermatching could be acceptable. The CTOD and Charpy tests showed good toughness and weld metal embrittlement was not observed. The hardness and the stress corrosion cracking tests demonstrated that the consumable ER70S-6 is suitable for sour service. All properties evaluated met the requirements specified by the onshore pipeline standards, showing that the consumables ER70S-6, E71T-1CJ and E91T1-GM-H4 are suitable for the welding of heavy wall X65 pipe with sour service and toughness requirements. If an overmatching is required, the E91T1-GMH4 shall be used to assure a strength overmatching and prevent plastic strain concentration at the weld metal. The results provided by this paper can be used for consumable selection and for welding procedure qualification of pipelines construction when heavy wall API 5L X65 are used for sour gas transportation.

Aug 16, 2017

By Antonio Favia, Carsten Sowa, Spencer Diehl, Maria Carolina Campos, Christian Green, Marco Tulio, Olaf Schulz

Casting fluxes are one of the key factors to guarantee a good performance of the continuous casting process. Fluxes are added over the liquid steel in the mold, where carbon in the flux reacts with any air present, to form a reducing atmosphere of CO (g) to protect molten steel from oxidation. Then the oxide components form the sintered layer and they melt to form a liquid flux pool. Liquid slag from the pool infiltrates into the mold/strand channel and lubricates the newly-formed, steel shell. It was very common in the past that the addition of casting flux in the mold was made manually by the continuous casting strand operator, where the addition uniformity would mainly depend on the attention of the Operator in process and the addition standard would change from one operator to another, may causing variability on the continuous casting quality parameters. This paper presents improvement of continuous casting parameters such as, stability of flux thickness and reduction of dust in the continuous casting process, with the use of flux distribution mechanism in two continuous casting machines from two different steel plants.

Oct 1, 2019

By Theodore James Kurela

Analysis of adverse technical issues has traditionally relied on a snapshot of the state of the operation complemented with both the melt shop’s archived data and eyewitness accounts of adverse events. The GrafTech ArchiTech System is helping EAF shops solve problems faster by combining continuous analysis of information with statistically based alerts of process deviations. After one year of system implementation, a number of cases have been detected and communicated to melt shops worldwide. The objective of this paper is to examine a few of these cases; the early detection, statistical analysis, deviation reporting and the resulting countermeasures implemented.

Aug 17, 2017

By Mingyu Ma, Lingling Liu, Liqing Chen, Houlong Liu

In this article, a 444-type heat-resistant ferritic stainless steel containing 0.05wt% Ce and 2wt% (Mo+W) was used as an experimental material and a study was carried out on the effect of rolling processes on the microstructures and texture evolution as well as on the mechanical properties and formability. The rolling processes contain hot rolling at different hot rolling finish temperatures, annealing after hot rolling, cold rolling and subsequent annealing. As for the hot rolling process, two hot rolling finish temperatures, 860 C and 770 C, were adopted, and their influence on the microstructures and mechanical properties was comparatively studied. The results showed that the microstructures after hot rolling and subsequent annealing could be refined by lowering the hot rolling finish temperature. The resultant microstructures after cold rolling and annealing were hereditarily refined. Lowering the hot rolling finish temperature can weaken the -fiber texture in hot rolled or cold rolled ferritic stainless steel strip. However, the -fiber texture was homogeneously strengthened by annealing the cold rolled ferritic stainless steel strip. Enhanced mechanical property and formability in terms of strength and average plastic strain ratio could be obtained by lowering the hot rolling finish temperature of ferritic stainless steel.

Oct 1, 2019

By Elaine Aparecida Santos Carvalho Costa

Esse trabalho tem como objetivo produzir e caracterizar uma rocha artificial composta por chamote e brita e uma resina epoxídica, visando obter um material nacional oferecendo uma alternativa econômica e ecológica. Primeiro foi determinada a composição granulométrica de maior empacotamento dos resíduos, para a produção dos corpos de prova foi utilizado vibração, vácuo e compressão. Os corpos de prova foram submetidos a ensaio físico, ensaio de flexão, desgaste abrasivo e resistência ao ataque químico. As rochas produzidas artificialmente apresentaram propriedades mecânicas dentro da faixa esperada e propriedades físicas abaixo do esperado quando comparada com outras rochas artificiais, se mostrou resistente ao ataque químico e resistente ao desgaste abrasivo, podendo deste modo ser empregadas para piso de alto tráfego.

Oct 30, 2017

By Charles David

This work aimed at evaluating the effect of pre-strain of Lean Duplex UNS S32304 on anodic dissolution and hydrogen evolution reaction rates in acidic chloride media. Interrupted tensile testing was employed in order to generate different deformation levels. Potentiodynamic experiments allowed to detect a decrease on the cathodic and anodic reaction rates as a consequence of plastic deformation. A non-linear evolution of corrosion rates was observed, probably as a consequence of the evolution of specific dislocation structures in the material. Strain also caused a slight ennoblement of the ferritic phase, while austenite became a little less noble. These behaviors are analyzed in terms of residual stresses, characterized by X-ray diffraction.

Aug 17, 2017

By Jim Belous

Fluid Dynamic Modeling (FDM) was used to develop solutions how to eliminate the fugitive emissions from the meltshop building and to comply with the EPA “6% opacity from the furnace operations” rule. Secondary Emission Control (SEC) system performance was simulated by an inverted 1:96 scale Plexiglas model of the entire meltshop, utilizing the negative buoyancy effects of saline solution in water. Test results show that with the installation of the internal partition wall which separates furnace aisle from the caster aisle, significant improvement of the SEC system is achievable, thereby avoiding large expenditure for the expanding a fume collection system capacity.

Aug 17, 2017

By John Ross Middleton

Based upon 30 years+ experience in the Development, Implementation and Ongoing Support of Computer based Melt Shop Management Systems in about 40 plants in the UK, Europe and the USA, consideration of the overall facilities of a state of the art, comprehensive, Integrated Melt Shop System covering Melting and Secondary processes for all grades of steels and superalloys; the scope of functionality of these systems, covering Raw Materials and Consumables Procurement and Inventory Management, Laboratory Management, Melt Shop Scheduling, Furnace Charge and Additions Optimisation, Level 1.5 to Level 2.5 Materials Optimisation and Process Control Calculations, Process Data Recording, Management of Ladles, Furnace Bodies, Vessels and Moulds, Comprehensive Management Reporting and Integration with Corporate ERP Systems. The second section of the paper reviews the key ‘Success Factors’ to achieve rapid, successful implementation, comprehensive, fast response user support, continuing system improvement and maintaining ‘perfect fit’ of system to operations in an ever changing future technical, operations and business environment.

Jul 29, 2018