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By Jianping Li, Fei Peng, Yunbo Xu, Jiayu Li

In this study, in order to achieve ultra-high strength without reducing plasticity, a novel heat treatment involving a pre-quenching process prior to conventional intercritical annealing (P-IDP) was proposed in a low carbon low alloy DP steel. It revealed that abundant fraction of banded structure was observed after conventional intercritical heat treatment (IDP) due to the inheritance of cold rolling deformation. However, the banded structure in novel heat treatment was eliminated significantly, whilst the refined microstructure was relatively more homogeneous with ultrafine ferrite grains. Moreover, obvious chain-networked martensite grains along the ferrite grain boundaries were obtained. The optimum mechanical properties with ultimate strength of 1238 MPa, total elongation of 17%, product of strength and elongation (PSE) of 21GPa% were obtained by P-IDP treatment, which was much higher than the values reported with similar composition. As to pre-quenching treatment, all of grain refinement, homogeneous distribution of martensite islands and precipitated strengthening of microalloyed carbides were beneficial to improve the final strength and ductility.

Oct 1, 2019

By Vinícius da Silva Madruga

Os processos de lingotamento contínuo e de lingotamento convencional apresentam diferenças na solidificação dos aços, esse fato tem impacto na distribuição, quantidade e forma de inclusões de óxidos e sulfetos. O objetivo desse trabalho é verificar de que maneira tais diferenças influenciam na distribuição dos sulfetos ao longo do aço solidificado de qualidade SAE 1050. Para isso, 20 amostras foram retiradas de eixos forjados e barras laminadas, produtos conformados de origem do lingotamento convencional e do lingotamento contínuo, respectivamente. As amostras foram analisadas em microscópio ótico e microscópio eletrônico de varredura no modo de análise automatizada de partículas. Através das imagens e de dados numéricos obtidos, foi visto que nas amostras de barra laminada há grande quantidade de sulfetos, se analisada na seção longitudinal, em relação às amostras de eixo forjado. Analisando na seção transversal, foram detectados menos sulfetos devido ao alinhamento dos mesmos. Entre as amostras de eixo forjado, a área ocupada pelos sulfetos é maior no pé do lingote, reduzindo em direção à cabeça, apesar de a cabeça apresentar mais sulfetos. Tais diferenças foram atribuídas à taxa de resfriamento, à seção transversal do produto e ao processo, que variam entre os dois tipos de lingotamento.

Oct 30, 2017

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 Antonio Esposito

Saving energy and reducing pollution by minimizing emissions are today great challenges in the coking industry worldwide. In order to achieve satisfying results, equipment as well as technology should be continuously improved and updated. The most modern design tools should be adopted to maximize the coke production rate also ensuring the best coke quality. In this scenario, Paul Wurth is realizing the new coke making plant of CSPecem, Ceara - Brazil. These batteries are based on Paul Wurth “jumbo oven concept”. This solution incorporates all most modern features and design upgrading, in the aim of an easy and long-lasting operation putting a particular attention to environmental performances: the reduced number of ovens and the low number of pushing per day have the main effect of reducing pollution sources. Finally the paper will highlight Paul Wurth SOPRECO® System, which is foreseen to be installed in CSPecem batteries. SOPRECO®, which is capable of controlling the pressure for each individual oven in a coke oven battery, is thus able to reduce volatile emissions through doors, roofs and stand pipes up to 90%. The coke oven gas (COG) produced during the carbonization process is cleaned in a coke oven gas treatment plant to the level stipulated by applying the Best Available Technology (BAT).

Aug 1, 2018

By Antonio Esposito

Saving energy and reducing resource’s consumption by minimizing emissions are today great challenges in the coking industry worldwide. In order to achieve satisfying results, equipment as well as technology should be continuously improved and designed to minimize the energy requirements and to maximize the recovery of materials and energy. The sensible heat in coke pushed out of oven chamber takes up 35 ÷ 40 % of energy consumption of coke oven. Usually the coke thermal energy is lost during traditional coke wet quenching, necessary to reduce the coke temperature for the storage and the following use in steelmaking processes. BPSL CDQ project is a sample how Paul Wurth’s technology allows to reach the energy saving goal and offers an alternative to traditional quenching. With the adoption of Coke Dry Quenching process, a considerable amount of this sensible heat in the coke can be recovered by producing steam; its production depends on various parameters, some of them battery related (Volatile Matters in red hot coke) and others CDQ system related (coke burning losses, superheated steam characteristics (i.e. P,T)), greatly depending also on boiler efficiency (heat exchange efficiency, insulation of the boiler itself, air leakage, etc.). The adoption of CDQ process reduces also the water consumptions in comparison with traditional quenching.

Aug 16, 2017

By Henrique Silva Furtado

Light meter is an ArcelorMittal innovation that uses off-gas light intensity to predict bath carbon, which is akin to the visual cues that the operators employ to finish a blow. Light meter enables the prediction of end point that is independent of any operator’s judgment. The results have been in general consistent with the actual carbon content at BOF end point at Tubarão. Besides some outliers that occurred due to strange intensity curves, the system implemented in Tubarão BOF 3 reported a carbon prediction error statistic that is very similar to dissolved oxygen–carbon end point statistics. Preliminary trials using light meter without any filter improved carbon hit ratio significantly.

Jul 30, 2018

By André de Cabral Oliveira

With the onset of the global economic crisis in 2008, and more precisely from 2009, production routes in iron making as blast furnace, sinter and coke oven, indicated a significant increase in frequency as well as intensity of undesirable incidents. The cost impact of such deteriorations of the production chain cause significant losses ranging up to several hundred million dollars annually. On the other hand, opportunities for processes improvement are contributing to enhance process efficiency and results, and also reduce or even avoid losses from unexpected incidents. The use of specialized services for processes has gained projection along the plants and emerged as an attractive alternative to increase results by increasing the performance and reducing costs and expenses. Process Services are formatted to achieve cooperative and customized solution during planned or urgent interventions, conducting feasibility studies, process improvement, training, among others, providing knowledge, information and crucial actions to preserve and optimize processes and plant facilities.

Aug 2, 2018

By Osvaldo Guilherme Comineli

While the hot cracking of Cu-containing steels is a serious and widely known problem for the industry, the literature reports that copper only slightly impairs the hot-ductility measured in laboratory. A distinction is drawn between hot ductility and hot shortness and the respective cracking operating mechanism involved at the respective range of temperature. The representability of the laboratory assessment of hot cracking of Cu-containing steels by hot tensile tests compared with actual results in industrial practice is discussed. The effectiveness of the variable affecting in each cracking mechanism and respective temperature range, focused in improving the hot cracking assessment of Cu-steels and the relative importance of oxidation will also be discussed. It is concluded that the hot tensile test in argon might be a good simulation if properly interpreted and that the role of oxidation is secondary in causing hot shortness. A schematic diagram for the hot tensile test is proposed.

Oct 30, 2017

By Alessandro Molinari

In recent times, coke oven machines are acquiring a more prominent role in the coke making process. Apart from the traditional handling of the coal and coke flow, nowadays these machines are also deeply involved in all environmental and process control aspects. Paul Wurth coke oven machines have been developed by Schalke to meet the most recent requirements in terms of emissions control, automation, instrumentation, operability and maintainability. In CSP, Ceará, the new coke making plant represents the status of the art of the technologies applied to the whole coking process; starting from the Coke Oven Batteries and the Gas Treatment Plant developed by Paul Wurth up to the Coke Machines supplied by Schalker Eisenhütte, whose technology is now part of Paul Wurth coke making products portfolio. Present paper describes the plant configuration focusing on Coke Oven Machines and the key factors which are guarantying the success of the project.

Aug 16, 2017

By Andrelio Marcos Ribeiro, Lucio Ribeiro Camisao, Antonio Carlos Ataíde, Alan de Sousa Pereira, Renato Siqueira Campos

The annealing and pickling line n. 1, responsible for the production of stainless steel 3xx, 4xx and 430a in thicknesses from 4 to 0.4 mm, has two vertical strip accumulators. These are intended not to let the material exceed the determined time in the furnace and in the pickling, and consequently do not cause defects like burning and excessive pickling. Strip accumulator n. 1 avoids the line from stopping during welding execution of the coils in the welding machine. In sequence, the strip accumulator n. 2 avoids the line from stopping at the end cutting of the tips, and in the coils removal from the pickling. The strip accumulators have a roller table that during the strip accumulation moves vertically downwards while its counterweight moves vertically upwards, and do the inverse movement when the material is released. On December 12th 2018, the failure occurred in the strip accumulator n. 1, where it was verified that the shaft of one of the pulleys had been fractured by high-cycle mechanical fatigue, which was characterized by alternating bending. With the fracture of the shaft, occurred the unevenness of the counterweight that damaged the guides. Failure analysis of this occurrence was based on the PDCA methodology, when was verified a weld between the shaft and the pulley. The analysis of the microstructure transformation in the molten zone, in the heat affected zone and in the base metal was carried out in an optical microscope, and no abnormality was observed. It was also carried out the end test by penetrating liquid, finding an inadequate weld in its geometry, as well as longitudinal trunks along the center of the weld bead. However, after a huge investigation of the causes, it was found that the failure was triggered by an inadequate design of the pulley shaft. It was also verified that the shaft had an open measure, inadequate for the operational context. After the analysis, action plans were drawn up based on the FMEA methodology to inhibit the failure recurrence.

Oct 7, 2019

By Ivênio de Oliveira Teixeira

Grelhas constituem o fundo móvel dos setores da esteira sem fim das máquinas de sinterização. Diferentes tipos de materiais têm sido utilizados para a fabricação dessas peças, desde aços resistentes ao calor e inoxidáveis até ferros fundidos de alta resistência, tendo como parâmetro de controle a perda de massa ou redução da espessura das grelhas. A necessidade do aumento do ritmo operacional das sinterizações ao longo dos anos tem levado ao aumento da substituição de grelhas, contrapondo ao aumento da produtividade das sinterizações. Desta forma, a adequação da resistência ao desgaste abrasivo e a minimização de transformações microestruturais em função as condições de utilização dos materiais desses componentes mecânicos têm sido alvo do desenvolvimento de materiais para essa aplicação. Nesse trabalho é discutido o desenvolvimento de materiais aplicados em grelhas de sinterização, visando o aumento da sua vida útil, a partir do melhor entendimento dos mecanismos de degradação e da realização de ensaios laboratoriais de desgaste abrasivo, corrosão a quente e fadiga térmica. Dentre cinco alternativas avaliadas, a concepção de material com matriz ferrítica e adição de elementos químicos formadores de carbonetos mais estáveis a elevadas temperaturas e formação de camada mais aderente de óxidos apresentou melhores resultados, gerando uma perspectiva de aumento da vida útil da ordem de pelo menos três vezes em relação à condição atual.

Aug 16, 2017

By Paulo Sérgio Moreirar

A caracterização do tamanho de grão austenítico prévio dos aços é importante, pois a partir desta investigação é possível estimar parâmetros metalúrgicos que repercutirão na qualidade final do produto. Desenvolver métodos para a revelação do contorno de grão prévio se faz necessário, porém, muitas pesquisas apontam para a complexidade destes métodos. Este trabalho se propõe a avaliar diferentes técnicas de contraste para revelar o contorno de grão austenítico prévio dos aços ABNT 1045 e ABNT 4340. Foram utilizadas três técnicas para revelar o contorno de grão austenítico prévio, sendo: ataque químico, ataque térmico e têmpera superficial. Destacam-se o ataque térmico e a têmpera superficial como métodos inovadores. O ataque químico foi realizado em três condições, variando-se a composição de ácido clorídrico adicionado ao reativo a base de ácido pícrico. O ataque térmico foi realizado em duas condições, em atmosfera inerte e em atmosfera oxidante/inerte. A técnica de têmpera superficial consistiu em austenitizar e promover um tratamento térmico de têmpera com restrições na taxa de resfriamento, promovendo um efeito de transformação bainitica nos contornos de grãos austeníticos prévios. Pôde-se concluir que a técnica mais eficiente para os aços estudados foi o ataque químico a base de ácido pícrico. As técnicas de ataque térmico e têmpera superficial se mostraram eficientes para o aço ABNT 1045, apresentando potencial de melhoria metodológica para outros tipos de aços.

Aug 16, 2017

By Leandro Nakamura Alves Vieira

O acirramento da competição no mercado de aço tem exigido esforços de inovação e redução de custos. Por sua vez, as técnicas agrupadas como ICME - Integrated Computational Materials Engineering vêm acelerando o desenvolvimento e a otimização de materiais e processos de fabricação. O emprego destas técnicas tem sido uma ferramenta extra para assegurar a competitividade na indústria. Neste trabalho o uso da termodinâmica computacional no desenvolvimento e processamento de aços elétricos é revisado através da discussão de exemplos. Cálculos de equilíbrios mais relevantes para o processo de fabricação destes aços (tanto de grão não orientado-GNO como orientado-GO) permitem obter informações sobre as transformações de fases, solubilização de precipitados (sulfetos e nitretos) essenciais para a obtenção de texturas cristalográficas ideais. Os cálculos são discutidos e comparados com resultados reais. Discutem-se ainda, cálculos no sistema aço-gás, e os efeitos da composição da atmosfera na formação de óxidos na superfície do aço. Tais cálculos são importantes para descrever previamente as transformações que ocorrem durante as várias etapas de fabricação, assim como os efeitos dos parâmetros de processo sob os aços elétricos. A aplicação da técnica permite otimizar o processamento e o desenvolvimento dos aços elétricos em diversos aspectos. As vantagens e limitações do método, assim como o potencial de outras técnicas de ICME, na área, são discutidas.

Aug 7, 2018

By Marília Silva Cavalcante, Filipe Brito Marinho de Barros, Suelen Silva Rocha, Jorge Luiz Valença Mariz

A seleção adequada da taxa de produção de um empreendimento mineiro tem influência direta na possibilidade de sucesso do projeto, assim como a definição do porte e quantidade de equipamentos empregados em sua operação influenciam a maximização do Valor Presente Líquido (VPL). Nesse processo, a análise de risco na variável de saída aliada à análise de sensibilidade fornece resultados mais consistentes, visto que considera os riscos e incertezas de um projeto ao longo de sua vida útil. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a operação em uma mina de agregados a partir da consideração de quatro diferentes conjuntos escavadeira-caminhões através do método do Valor Anual Uniforme Equivalente (VAUE), comparando-o com o método do VPL. Foram revistas as avaliações econômicas efetuadas em estudo anterior, no qual foi obtido o VPL e efetuadas as Análises de Risco e Sensibilidade em cada um dos cenários, e foi acrescida à análise a metodologia do VAUE, sendo esta também submetida à análise probabilística. Foi verificado o desempenho de cada escavadeira e seus correspondentes caminhões para diferentes taxas de produção em ambas as metodologias, permitindo concluir que, para um mesmo número de unidades de transporte e contanto que a taxa de produção requerida seja possível, quanto menor o porte do equipamento, mais econômico é o cenário. Por outro lado, quanto maior a taxa de produção do empreendimento, mais rentável este será.

Oct 3, 2019

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

Oct 1, 2019

By Valeria Collini, Antonello Mestroni, Enrico Plazzogna

The Danieli Group is deeply involved in the technological improvements stimulated by Industry 4.0 concepts widely applied to the metals industry and process automation. The so-called "Intelligent Mill" is the natural evolution of the company’s consolidated know-how and undisputed leadership in the fields of mini-mill and turnkey plants. Complete and structured data collection is the basis for real-time analysis and process optimization in terms of quality, efficiency and easy maintenance. A centralized repository of information is possible thanks to the strong interconnection between process control system architecture and intelligent sensors, together with dedicated software tools leading to an intuitive approach to data analytics.

Oct 1, 2019

By Alberto Pesamosca

The paper presents the results obtained by the AC EAF supplied by Danieli at Kroman Çelik (Gebze-Turkey) after the planned upgrade to 150 ton. The EAF – 7,4 m diameter, based on the full platform standard design - is able to handle a maximum power of 114 MW and is equipped with the most advanced and reliable technology, including module injection system and the Hireg electrodes regulation system. Excellent results were already obtained with 120 heat size in terms of fast start-up and excellent performance figures. After the upgrade, productivity was increased up to 212 t/h, maintaining high process efficiency (365 kWh/t with 32,1 Nm3/t O2).

Jul 30, 2018

By Alain Denis, Marcelo Curtes Martins, Jeferson Rocio de Oliveira

In this work we present a study of optimization of a new inhibitor for turbulence pickling line. The efficiency of inhibition was measured and the weight of loss was evaluated in four different materials to optimize the dosage of the inhibitor. In seven months we had 8.7% of reduction in pickling losses.

Oct 1, 2019

By Sebastien Maillard, Stephane Georges, Thomas Vallee, Stanislas Mauuary

Steel strip manufacturing ever reinvents proposing new grades, requiring to tackle technical limitations of production systems. Primetals Technologies breaks through strip welding by expanding the welder LW21L “Asolid” technology used on low gauges for high-end market such as automotive CAL/CGL. Addressing the usual drawbacks in maintenance, operation and safety of current welding system based on mechanical cutting and CO2 laser welding, the newly developped LW21H “Asolid” technology processes thicker strips up to 7 mm with solid-state laser cutting and welding. This new welder is brought to reality through a scale 1:1 pilot developed, manufactured and tested in Primetals Technologies workshop.

Oct 1, 2019

By Samanta Neves da Silva

Depósitos estratiformes são característicos por apresentarem irregularidades nos contatos entre minério e estéril, motivo que requer especial atenção no planejamento de lavra. No depósito de Bauxita em estudo, a definição da geometria da camada de minério é realizada por interpretação dos furos de sondagens com espaçamento médio de 200 metros. O modelo gerado dos contatos litológicos, comumente, não incorpora as oscilações em curtas distâncias das elevações (Z) entre furos, o que influencia na fase de modelamento geológico, logo, na previsão dos fatores de diluição e perdas de minério. Este trabalho propõe agregar dados de curta distância, aumentando as informações entre furos de sondagens e, a partir das medidas de cota no topo e base da camada de minério, melhor refletir a geometria do corpo de minério. Assim a metodologia se divide em: criar modelos de superfícies interpoladas irregulares de topo (SIT) e base (SIB), considerando as informações de curta distância; analisar elevações médias em cada superfície, a fim de pressupor superfícies planas de lavra no topo (SPT) e na base (SPB); verificar a amplitude entre essas superfícies - SITxSPT e SIBxSPB, mensurando os fatores de perdas e diluições de minério a partir da diferença entre as elevações. O produto final deste trabalho consistiu da quantificação dos fatores de diluição e perdas de minério, aplicadas ao planejamento de lavra de curto prazo, otimizando o aproveitamento dos recursos e, consequentemente, aumentando a vida útil da mina.

Aug 8, 2018