Search Documents

By Andreas Jungbauer

The Chinese steel producer Rizhao Steel is now focusing on the highly attractive local and export markets for high-quality, thin-gauge strip products. The first line of five Arvedi ESP plants began operations in the spring of 2015. The new casting-rolling complex is designed for a total annual production capacity of 11 million tons of highquality, ultra-thin, hot-rolled strip products with widths of up to 1,600 mm and thicknesses down to 0.8 mm. The energy consumption and related costs are reduced by up to 45% compared with conventional casting and rolling processes. This also means a major reduction in CO2 emissions. During the project phase, the plant personnel from China received extensive training at the licensor’s plant – Acciaieria Arvedi S.p.A. in Italy – to prepare them to deliver the best operational performance with the new state-of-the-art endless casting-rolling facility. The plant setup, the training and support program, as well as the latest results from the start-up are presented in this paper.

Aug 16, 2017

By Christiano Gianesi Bastos Andrade

Clays with high content of smectite are denominated bentonites, and are widely used in industry as, for example, agents for bleaching of vegetable oils, animals and minerals. For this use, the smectite clays are treated with inorganic acid of high concentration at temperatures under boiling point, which provide the bentonite´s bleaching power. In the present study, a sample of smectite from Cubati, Paraiba, Brazil, was submitted to treatment under moderate conditions (90°C, reaction times of 1, 6, 12, 18 and 24hours in close reactor, concentration of the aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid 1.5 M, acid solution/clay ratio of 1g/10mL), aiming to reduce impurities, responsible for the color of the clay, without causing significant changes in their structure. Thus, clay can be used in the cosmetics industry and other products with high added value. The treated clay was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), stereomicroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was observed a bleaching in samples with time of 12h to 18h. With the DRX was possible to monitor the peak intensity of the clay structure and the sample with 12 hours of treatment was not significantly altered its crystalline structure, maintaining the peak clay at d001. The most pronounced changes in the bleaching occurred within the first 12 hours of acid treatment.

Aug 8, 2018

By Luciana Lezira Pereira de Almeida

With the increasing use of ornamental rocks, mainly in civil construction, sundry problems were identified in relation to rocks cutting, such as efficiency in the cutting process and rock quality lumber. In recent years several composites have been developed to solve these problems. In this context, the study of the binomial matrix metal-diamond interaction is of paramount importance for the development of new composite materials to improve the efficiency of the cutting tool. The diamond impregnated matrix metal often reveals a reaction between the diamond surface and the matrix. Besides the mechanical connection, chemical reactions can sometimes occur. Therefore, this study aims to assess the achievement of diamond composites in the system Fe / Cu / Ni / Sn via powder metallurgy, with added CRB2. Analyzes have been performed to characterize chemical / physical and mechanical. The results have showed that addition of CRB2 promote significant changes in the properties of composites, especially in wear resistance and fracture toughness. Furthermore, the presence of the composite CRB2 causes a significant improvement in thermal stability.

Aug 16, 2017

By Werner Klein

The Production Management solution (Level 3) covers TYASA’s existing steel making plant, billet caster and new Castrip based coil production line in Ixtaczoquitlan, Mexico. It steers the order based production utilizing product routing information and corresponding process instructions for the individual processing units. A seamless material tracking along the entire production route from heat creation in the electric arc furnace down to the final coil product provides TYASA with the genealogy information customers require for flat products. At each important process step the Level 3 compares actual quality related production results with order requirements. In case of deviations from ordered quality the plant staff is guided by rule based dispositions. The highly configurable solution supports customer to operate its production plant as a smart factory in the sense of industry 4.0.

Oct 30, 2017

By Aloizio Cesar Gonzaga, Leandro de Paula, Ismael de Souza Dias, Gladston Santos

Looking for greater competitiveness, Gerdau started in 2013 the operation of its hot strip mill in Ouro Branco, being a milestone in Gerdau's history, where it definitely entered the flat products business. This mill consists of the reheating furnace, primary scaler, a Duo-reversible Quadrupole Steckel mill, accelerated cooling and final coiling. The Steckel mill works with two backup rolls and two working rolls, the backup rolls being responsible for supporting the rolling forces and the working rolls for shaping and surface quality to the strips, having as main requirement quality of surface finish. These rolls suffer high wear due to the lamination process and are exchanged with high frequency to ensure the quality of the laminated strips, after the exchange are sent to the Work Roll Shop for grinding and are positioned Grinded work rolls for the next planned change. This movement is accomplished through the crane and an exchange device that attaches to the cylinders to be transported from the Rolling Mill to the Work Roll Shop. The target in this article is focused on an improvement in this Device to increase operational safety and reduce stoppage losses downtime at the mill, improving the cost / benefit ratio and increase production.

Oct 1, 2019

By Armando Vazquez

When water enters the EAF, some chemically dissociates to H2 while some remains as H2O vapor. Depending on operating conditions the levels of combustible gases (CO and H2) and H2O are continually changing throughout the course of any individual heat and on a heat-toheat basis. The EFSOP® system has been implemented in more than 80 installations as a powerful tool to reduce furnace operation costs but with water detection technology the off gas technology is a valuable solution to improve safety. This paper describes the latest results when using Tenova Goodfellow’s new standalone water detection technology that for the first time provides real-time analysis of both H2O vapor and H2 from start-to-end of a heat. It involves a newly designed water cooled probe and heated line that eliminates condensation during off-gas sampling and an analyzer equipped with a proprietary system for analyzing both H2O vapor and H2.

Jul 30, 2018

By Norbert Asamer

At various stages during the hot rolling process, the different rolled products – blooms, billets, bars, respectively sections, but also slabs or plates – need to be cut. While the cross sections of these products are being reduced during each rolling pass, the lengths are being increased accordingly. Thus, it becomes necessary to cut the products to shorter lengths suitable for the next steps of production by state-of-the-art designed dry abrasive cut-off machines.

Jul 30, 2018

By Horacio Destaillat

Desde hace aproximadamente 15 años se encontró por experiencia empírica que se puede “neutralizar” el efecto del plomo sobre la maleabilidad en caliente de cobre proveniente de la refinación térmica de chatarras mediante control de la composición química. Este hallazgo ha resultado de aplicación industrial. Si bien el contenido porcentual de plomo se reduce por refinación convencional y con cierta facilidad hasta 0,02 – 0,03 %, este valor es elevado [1] para laminar en caliente. Bajar el nivel de plomo hasta los valores exigibles por normas, requiere procedimientos especiales y costosos. La técnica cuyo mecanismo aquí se investiga, consiste en ajustar el contenido de plomo y estaño dentro de ciertas proporciones, ya que el balance de estos elementos, permite proceder sin problemas de fisuraciones a la colada y laminación en línea del cobre. Con el control de la composición química del sistema se logra que el plomo y el estaño se adhieran [2] sobre las partículas de eutéctico Cu-Cu2O. Esta disposición micro estructural en borde de grano explica la acción favorable del estaño en la maleabilidad. El procedimiento que aquí se describe no es aplicable a cualquier caso pues no funciona en materiales con contenido elevado de oxígeno (“Tough pitch”) ni en cobres desoxidados. Solamente lo hace en formas de baja sección que hayan sufrido enfriamiento rápido.

Aug 7, 2018

By Manfred Hackl, Sergey Bragin, Alois Seilinger

The demand for hot rolled strip is growing in multiple ways. To remain competitive, new and existing mills must meet arisen challenges in the best possible way. The production of hot strip is a key element of steel production. Since close to half of all steel produced is hot-rolled to strip, mills require maximum throughput and availability combined with geometrical precision and the ability to create optimum material properties. Today there is a clear trend in developing new steel grades with high-strength and improved formability, like 3rd generation AHSS (Advanced High Strength Steels), as well as a trend to produce thinner and wider gauges. This trend challenges hot strip mills because it requires new technologies which provide more flexibility in metallurgical treatment during the rolling process. In order to meet and promote these trends Primetals Technologies is currently working on different concepts and solutions. One example is the development of a new mill stand technology Flex-HI HOT which allows to adapt the last finishing mill stands by efficiently switching from 4-high to a 6-high mode with small work roll diameter based on production needs. Another solution is to apply a permanent 6-high rolling stand at the end of the finishing train. A smaller work roll diameter allows to achieve higher specific thickness reductions and deformation rates resulting in significant thinner hot-strip gauges with valuable metallurgical benefits. The developed solution concepts with technological and metallurgical benefits will be presented in this paper.

Oct 1, 2019

By Wolfgang Kern

The implementation of the Gas Treatment Plant (GTP) for CSPECEM, Ceara-Brazil is a result of the closed partnership between Paul Wurth Italia S.p.A. and DMT, the German leading company in Coke Oven Gas Treatment Plants. In addition to technical issues reducing emissions, avoiding of waste and saving environment and energy were technical challenges during the engineering phase. Below mentioned three descriptions of technical solutions represents examples of a number other innovations based on DMT’s know-how and experience in the field of by-product plants. Generally the design of the complete GTP is based on the consideration of modern features and design upgrading, with the aim of a safe operation with stable conditions and a long-living cycle of the whole of the plant.

Aug 16, 2017

By Yuechang Wang

A new method of manufacturing the wavy-tilt-dam(WTD) mechanical seal has been mentioned. In this method, the special equipment is designed to provide a predetermined force to external and inner circular surface of the ring. After milling the end face of the seal by grinding miller and releasing the preload, the wavy-tilt-dam can be done on the seal surface. In this paper, a prediction model is built up to investigate the relationship between the predetermined force and the deformation on the surface of the ring by using ANSYS software. A WTD ring is manufactured by this method which approves that the prediction model is in accord with the real process and this manufacturing method of the WTD mechanical seal is a proper choice.

Jul 31, 2018

By Michael Windhager, Karl H. Ziehenberger

ULTIMA® are high performance, centrifugal cast, double poured (CC duplex) work rolls. This paper describes the principle of the ULTIMA® roll concept and its wide range of usability. The ULTIMA® concept provides a solution for rod and bar mills to increase performance and output, even under harsh rolling conditions. The main focus is on highly loaded mill stands that require both high wear resistance and resistance against thermal fatigue, like pre-dog bone, dog bone, slitter. Specific case studies of quite different mill configurations and rolled product mix prove the positive impact on production yield, mill and roll shop operations, and profitability in terms of TCO (total cost of ownership).

Oct 1, 2019

By Hiroshi Ichikawa

In 2013, Nippon Steel & Sumikin Engineering Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as NSENGI), Tenova HYL and Danieli have entered into an agreement to combine ENERGION DR technology into blast furnace technology and/or with syngas technologies. This new alliance will allow the three companies to combine research and development activities with their respective expertise in ENERGIRON DR technology, Blast Furnace technology and Syngas (by-pro gas and coal gasification) technology, with the ultimate objective to develop breakthrough iron making technologies and create such EPC projects. This paper introduces the concepts and the features of our breakthrough technologies of combining of ENERGIRON DR technology, Blast Furnace technology and Syngas technology.

Aug 16, 2017

By Marcelo Rebellato, Beatriz Pereda, Beatriz Lopez, Pello Uranga

The classical application of Nb microalloying in the development of thermomechanical processes for flat products has been related to its suitability to enhance strain-induced precipitation and get a pancaked austenite prior to transformation. As new steel grades or new lay-outs are being developed, more complex metallurgical conditions need to be evaluated. In this context, Nb microalloying, alone or combined with other microadditions, needs to intervene in a more controlled way in additional steps of the thermomechanical process, besides its conventional strain-induced precipitation role. For example, the hardenability enhancement associated with Nb to properly achieve lower temperature transformation products, demands a proper balance of the Nb amount precipitated during rolling and the one remaining in solid solution. Similar effects are also sought when the final available Nb is used to increase strength through precipitation hardening. This manuscript evaluates how changes in the rolling strategies affect the interaction between Nb(C,N) precipitation and austenite recrystallization at different steps of the rolling process. As the possible interactions between parameters intervening simultaneously are quite complex, the application of microstructural models helps to properly define the best austenite conditioning combined with the convenient amount of Nb in solution, as a function of the final property requirements. Along the manuscript, several strategies will be discussed for the case of hot rolling of flat products comparing both normal and coarse initial austenite grain sizes.

Oct 1, 2019

By Uazir Bezerra de Oliveira, Günther Staudinger, Michael Skorianz, Edo Engel

Oct 1, 2019

By G. Martino, F. Silva, Emmanuel Marchal

The definition of the chemical specification at multiple steps of the steelmaking process is very common in the industry. Among all elements and compounds, the Sulphur content has a special control over several stages, from the coal blend to the final products. Coke, iron and steelmaking specialists usually agree on a static specification for each intermediate product according to their local operation capacity and production cost. However, local decisions have major impacts on the whole production chain and many global factors should be considered in order to make the best decision. In this study, we will exemplify focusing on Sulphur content concepts and techniques that could be applied to many decisions in an integrated carbon steel plant. The variation of coal and coke prices, the desulphurization cost and time, the processes operating points, the hot metal rate at converters, prices and demands of low and ultra-low Sulphur steel grades are some of the integrated factors that are usually disregarded during the specification process. Mathematical modeling presents itself as a proper option into dealing with all the complexity that emerges from integrating all these processes' trade-offs and decisions. This study presents the results of a mathematical model that encompasses economic, thermal, chemical, and mass balances, physical quality of materials and productivity constraints of all processes of a hypothetical integrated carbon steel plant. It optimizes the iron and steelmaking process on a global and unique objective, dynamically defining targets for product quality to achieve the lowest steel production cost. This study details multiple market-plant scenarios in order to compare economic and operating results of a static vs dynamic specification practice.

Oct 1, 2019

By Wenting Zhu, Liqing Chen, Junjun Cui, Zhenye Chen

In this presentation, a low carbon high strength steel microalloyed with Nb and Ti was processed by thermo-mechanical controlled process (TMCP) containing two stages of controlled rolling. The austenite with various grain sizes was obtained by austenitizing this hot-rolled steel at different temperatures. And the effect of austenite grain size on bainitic transformation was investigated in a dilatometer to reveal microstructural change. The results showed that the microstructure of the hot-rolled steel was mainly composed of granular bainite, lath-like bainite, and martenite/austenite constituents (M-A constituents). With increasing the austenitizing temperature, or increasing the austenite grain size, the microstructure was changed from granular bainite to lath bainite. When the steel was reheated to a lower temperature of 860 ºC, a relatively higher start temperature (Bs) was measured for bainitic transformation. This was mainly caused by the formation of solute-depleted region in the austenite and the promotion of the granular bainitic nucleation. The highest reaction rate occurred at austenitizing temperature of 1000 ºC with fine grain size, while the coarse austenite grain can lead to a sharp increase in the amount of bainite. An analysis was made on the kinetics of bainite transformation which was controlled by the volume diffusion of C atom.

Oct 1, 2019

By Michel Rodrigo Luiz, Glaudistoni da Silva Félix, Osmar Duarte Junior

This article deals with a project to reduce the preparation time and threading the coils in the input section of a pickling line coupled to the cold strip mill (PLTCM) at ArcelorMittal Vega. The project developed serves for the detection and elimination of bottlenecks in the input section. The project was conceived by the philosophy of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) and Lean Six Sigma (6 sigma), here seen as sequencing serial / parallel in the preparation and threading the coils. In this context, a proposal to modify the automatic sequencing and reduction of interruptions due to failure of the automation / equipment confirmed its effectiveness reducing the total time preparation time and threading the coils in the entry section by 15%. This project was developed without investment costs, bringing gains on the order of US$613,769.00.

Oct 1, 2019

By Roman Vaynshteyn

In places where Blast Furnaces are usually located, climatic factors may be unfavorable. Raw materials may be exposed to e.g. rain during transport/storage, bringing moisture into the process with consequences for stability and hot metal cost. This paper describes a technology for drying and pre-heating pellets and coke in the stockhouse. It does not require additional handling or logistical equipment and does not introduce extra transfer steps and degradation. Not only can moisture content be reduced, it can be controlled to a stable level by the operator.

Aug 16, 2017

By Michael McDonald

The cold-rolled steel output of cold-rolling mill (CRM) complexes are sometimes constrained by their batch annealing facilities (BAF). This paper examines a cost-effective solution to increasing capacity and quality of the BAF thereby making additional capacity available for CRM output. The solution involves applying a structured system of scheduling and operation to the BAF, using a proven level-2 software model. The system presented has been applied to a wide variety of BAF with all the leading furnace brands. Whether using traditional HN atmosphere or 100% hydrogen, peak performance can be achieved when using a properly configured, on-line, physical thermodynamic model. Given that it is not practical to place a thermocouple in each coil that is being annealed, various methods have historically been used to estimate the time required to properly anneal all the coils in the charge. This paper examines how the latest technology, in wide use throughout the USA, uses a physical thermodynamic model to shorten average cycle times, thereby increasing productivity and reducing energy consumption. The paper also examines the benefit of building thermodynamically balanced charges to further optimize the BAF operation and improve quality consistency by decreasing mechanical property variations.

Jul 30, 2018