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By Mario SINNAEVE, Olivier LEMAIRE, Gisèle WALMAG, Sébastien FLAMENT

Many hot rolling mills worldwide face nowadays bonding zone fatigue problems before reaching scrap diameter of the work rolls. This phenomenon is nowadays known to occur in reversing roughing mills both in stainless steel and in carbon steel rolling. The phenomenon can be explained through longer rolling campaigns, inadequate backup or work roll maintenance, harder steel grades or increased throughput by reduced amount of passes to achieve the same thickness. In order to help users in optimizing the roll use, we developed a numerical tool to evaluate and optimize roll maintenance. This paper will review the influence of roll geometries on stresses generated at the roll surface but also at the bonding zone. We will also show how roll geometries can decrease contact fatigue damages by modifying crowning and chamfering procedures, shell thickness, material design or campaign length

Oct 1, 2019

By Livia da Silva Mello

O objetivo deste trabalho é demonstrar que a utilização da Metodologia Six Sigma e ferramentas de controle estatístico e gestão, são eficazes para controle processo, redução custos e estabilização de processos em geral. O coque dentre os custos variáveis do Circuito Polimetálicos, representa o maior custo para a unidade de Juiz de Fora e a oportunidade em otimizar sua utilização, foi identificada a partir do levantamento de dados e benchmark realizado. Observou-se que a média do consumo específico de coque grosso + coque fino no Forno Waelz, em 2012 era em média 360 Kg/t de pó de aciaria (PAE) tratado estava muito superior a outras empresas que utilizam a mesma tecnologia para tratamento de resíduos. Definiu-se então como meta do projeto atingir 210Kg/t PAE até 2014. Passando por todas as etapas de um projeto Six Sigma: Definir, Medir, Analisar, Melhorar e Controlar, todas as ações realizadas garantiram uma melhor performance da variável: consumo específico de coque, uma média acumulada em 2013 de 212,3 Kg/t PAE e 181,5 Kg/t PAE em 2014 proporcionando um custo evitado de R$ 11,6MM para a unidade.

Sep 25, 2017

By Lucia Vieira

Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) can be used to monitor electrostatic charges on the surfaces of materials. In this paper, we describe the use of KPFM to evaluate the electrostatic effect induced by silver nanoparticles incorporated as clusters in diamond-like carbon (DLC) films, before and after scratching. The results are compared to those obtained for DLC films without silver nanoparticles. Raman spectroscopy was used to identify the DLC signature, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was used to confirm the presence of silver in the film. The morphology of the DLC film containing silver was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The findings suggest that the incorporation of silver nanoparticles in amorphous materials could offer new options for electrostatic energy storage on the surfaces of these materials.

Jul 31, 2018

By Angelo dos Reis Magalhães

Brazilian companies have adopted in recent years new management practices to remain competitive. Specialized consulting in asset management progressively creates or adapts new techniques in order to increase availability and reduce manufacturing costs, maximizing profits. New engineering concepts were acquired and implemented by executives in all business segments. Techniques, such as FMEA, RCM, LCC, Pas 55, Reliability studies by Monte Carlo simulations, among others, have become increasingly recognized as important tools to enhance managerial performance. Besides these techniques, this study suggests the importance of adequate structuring of a lubrication program, as a critical success factor for the reliability of any asset. Through a case study developed with a company in the mining sector, this work proposes the development of a master plan for lubrication based on three pillars: People, Equipment and Management system. Practices and care with lubricants, hydraulic fluids and coolant, until its point of application, shall be evaluated to ensure a correct contamination control and a high level of assets availability. This discussion sheds light onto other benefits of this process, including occupational health and safety; ergonomics; environment and sustainability.

Jul 31, 2018

By Fernando Henrique Gomes de Souza

Techniques which use a spring to supply the bias force to actuator are well adopted since they are inexpensive and simple to construct. In this work it was design an actuator concept using bias-type device technique, which comprises two coils that mutually push against each other to supply the stroke. For the coils springs, it was used a wire of NiTi shape memory alloys (SMA) and a wire of 400 grade maraging steel as construction materials.

Aug 8, 2018

By Andrea Zanon

Recently steel manufacturers have significantly focused their attention on safety and working conditions thanks to new labour laws, comprehensive operators’ knowledge and increased company social responsibility. Even with a reduced budget, investments on safety are now widely approved. Mill constructors aim at developing upgraded solutions to comply with these new requirements. In some cases mill constructors can even anticipate customers’ requests and consequently put into the market innovative solutions. In this text we will analyze some advanced solutions developed by Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche Spa - the leading company in long-product rolling mills - aimed at improving working conditions on wire-rod block settings. In particular, we will focus on rolling guides installed on fast-finishing blocks and on servo-assisted device for rolling rings changing. In fact, this equipment has shown effective benefits on our test plants and has mainly cut out the tendency of the personnel to be absent due to backache. This paper will first present standard working conditions, will then introduce the newest equipment developed by Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche Spa, will analyze its operation and finally will describe in detail the benefits that can be reached with its use.

Jul 30, 2018

By Bruce V. Kiefer

A modernization project was undertaken by Kroman Celik Sanayii A.S. in order to improve their product quality, consistency and shape of the coil package, reduce maintenance and delays in rod mill, thereby increasing utilization and productivity. The project involved installation of a new Morgan Intelligent Pinch Roll and High Speed Laying Head, modifications to the existing controlled cooling conveyor, plus replacing the coil reforming station. The new pinch roll and laying head were to provide better control of the ring formation and consistency of the coil on the conveyor, while reducing delays on the conveyor. Changes to the controlled cooling conveyor included installation of new nozzle decks and Optimesh air distribution system along with re-arrangement of existing fans in order to improve both cooling rates and uniformity of cooling. This paper explains details and features of the newly-installed equipment technology. Resulting product and process improvements are presented, including increased tensile strength and uniformity, reduction in delays on the conveyor and reform tub, plus improvements in coil quality.

Oct 30, 2017

By Mery Cecilia Gómez Marroquin

Um importante problema das indústrias de fabricação de aço, decorrentes do uso de sucata de aço, é o de recuperação dos metais contidos nos pós e lamas produzidos nos fornos elétricos a arco (FEA) e nos conversores LD/FOB. Cerca de 10 a 20 kg de pó por tonelada de aço são gerados nos Fornos Elétricos a Arco, considerados resíduos perigosos pelos órgãos fiscalizadores (classe ? - material perigoso/NBR). Vários processos, utilizando tecnologias distintas (pirometalúrgicas e hidrometalúrgicas), buscam a recuperação técnico-econômica principalmente do Fe e do Zn, contidos nesses resíduos. Neste contexto, estudos básicos sobre a redução carbotérmica dos constituintes dos pós de aciaria, permanecem sob estudo. O presente trabalho foca a redução de ferrita de zinco gerada em laboratório, principal composto de zinco presente nos pós de aciaria, por meio de CO puro e misturas CO-CO2. A fenomenologia da redução considera a decomposição prévia seguida de reduções simultâneas, bem como as significativas influencias da temperatura, do tempo e do teor de CO.

Aug 8, 2018

By Magno Luiz Tavares Bessa

Visando melhorar a distribuição de micropartículas de diamante (MD) na formulação de compósitos, foi desenvolvida, através da emulsão do sistema epóxi/poliamida em água, uma técnica de encapsulamento de MD. As MD foram pré-recobertas com um polímero baseado no sistema epóxi-poliamida e posteriormente utilizadas como carga na produção de um compósito com matriz da mesma composição do revestimento. A matriz epóxi/poliamida e compósitos com carga de MD encapsulados e sem recobrimento foram avaliados. As propriedades mecânicas foram avaliadas por ensaio de flexão em 3 pontos e por análise de tenacidade à fratura e as propriedades térmicas por DMA. Por MEV foram observadas a microestrutura das MD encapsulados e a superfície de fratura dos corpos de prova após ensaio de flexão. Não foram observados aumentos nas propriedades mecânicas do compósito com carga MD encapsulados em relação ao compósito com carga de MD não modificados. Esse resultado foi devido à adição ao sistema de defeitos estruturais como bolhas e ar e porosidade provenientes do uso das MD encapsulados. Foi observado porém, melhor distribuição das MD no sistema e uma melhor adesão à matriz para a carga de MD encapsulados em relação à carga de MD não revestidos, em função dos resultados obtidos por DMA.

Oct 30, 2017

By Amanda Sardinha Pereira

O uso dos aços 2,25Cr-1Mo-0,25V em reatores de hidrotratamento cresceu significativamente devido ao seu excelente comportamento em fluência, elevada tenacidade e resistência à corrosão. Contudo, as propriedades mecânicas deste material podem ser afetadas pelo tipo de microestrutura. O objetivo desse trabalho foi estudar a influência da microestrutura do aço 2,25Cr-1Mo-0,25V, obtida por meio de diferentes tratamentos térmicos, na difusividade e solubilidade de hidrogênio. Foram realizados ataques químicos seletivos para revelar a austenita retida e ensaios de permeação eletroquímica do hidrogênio. A análise dos dados da permeação mostrou que a amostra revenida a 550°C (Dap = 4,6 x 10-12 m2/s) possui menor coeficiente de difusão comparada às amostras revenida a 375°C (Dap = 6,9 x 10-11 m2/s) e revenida a 730°C (Dap= 3,4 x 10-11m2/s).

Aug 8, 2018

By Henrique Silva Furtado

Concerning production of low phosphorus steel critical grades at ArcelorMittal Tubarão site, bottom blowing system plays a very important role. For those systems with independently controlled tuyeres, some non-uniform bottom blowing patterns seem to be promising in improving metal-slag mixing; however, based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results of ArcelorMittal Tubarão’s post oxygen bottom blowing, this may not be generalized. Also, from industrial trials it became clear that higher the bottom blowing flow rate, the closer were the end point P to the equilibrium. Despite this result an analysis of the apparent mass transfer coefficient has shown a week correlation with the classical power stir correlation suggesting a more complex kinetic limiting step for phosphorus removal.

Jul 30, 2018

By Masakazu Iida

In this article, technologies of unburned Al2O3-MgO (UAM) refractories are demonstrated in terms of microstructure evolution. During operation, Mg2+ diffuses from MgO to Al2O3 through the liquid phase to form spinel (MgAl2O4) network. Molten slag tends to penetrate along the voids in the spinel network structure and spinel dissolves in the penetrated slag. Therefore, maintaining a high degree of spinel saturation in the penetrated molten slag is important. In order to achieve the condition described above, suppression of overall mass transfer through penetrated slag is effective. This is achievable by evolution of complicated spinel network structure with small pore diameter, which increases the flow resistance of molten slag. Thus, optimization of refractory composition and fabricating conditions, with the aim of creating on improved spinel network, is essential. The effectiveness of spinel network improvement was validated by commercial applications. According to the investigation of UAM brick after use, further densification due to heating under restrained conditions was recognized. Hence, it was concluded that the evolution of the spinel network structure in UAM refractories is essential technology needed to improve durability.

Oct 30, 2017

By Manoel Farias Martins

A utilização de antracito na produção de pelotas de minério de ferro é uma prática utilizada pelas mineradoras para reduzir custos com combustíveis e melhorar a qualidade física do produto. Objetivando uma melhor compreensão dos efeitos ocasionados pela adição de carvão na mistura (pellet feed moído e aditivos) sobre a resistência a compressão das pelotas queimadas, foram confrontados os resultados dos ensaios de resistência à compressão obtidos através da rotina de ensaios da mineradora VALE SA, com as seguintes variáveis: percentual em massa de carbono (%C fixo), porosidade e granulometria do antracito. Com a elevação de carbono, observou-se a redução nos valores da resistência à compressão, sobretudo, nas pelotas de redução direta. No que diz respeito à porosidade, a resistência à compressão das pelotas aumentou com a diminuição dos poros no interior das mesmas. Analisou-se também a granulometria do carvão, todavia, constatou-se que a mesma não teve influência significativa sobre os resultados da resistência à compressão.

Oct 30, 2017

By Diego José Inforzato

Hot tensile data were correlated with creep data, in Aluminum Alloy AL7475-T7351, as part of a broader research program, aiming at the validation of a methodology that proposes an equivalence between the two kind of results, for metallic materials in general. The methodology is based on a criterion that establishes correlation among the following parameters from each test: the strain rate, ultimate tensile stress, and time to reach the ultimate tensile stress, in tensile tests, are equivalent respectively to the: minimum strain rate, applied stress and rupture time, in creep tests, for a given test temperature. The present material was tested at 3 temperatures: 133,166 and 193ºC, using 3 nominal tensile strain rates in the hot tensile tests: 3.2x10-6, 1.6x10-4 and 6.4x10-3 s-1 and 9 applied stress levels in the creep tests, varying from 140 to 400 MPa. The conversion of the hot tensile data to creep-like data allowed performing the analysis of all the results together according to the traditional creep relations proposed by different authors, namely: Norton, Arrhenius, Zener-Hollomon and Monkman-Grant, with the determination of the corresponding parameters in each case. The equivalence between hot tensile and creep data is also confirmed for this aluminum alloy.

Aug 8, 2018

By Mühlböck Marlene

Increasingly stringent global environmental regulations are forcing steel producers to continually improve the efficiency of sinter waste gas treatment. With the Selective Waste Gas Recirculation (SWGR) system from Primetals Technologies, lower production costs can be achieved and the size of downstream waste gas cleaning units can be reduced for investment savings. SWGR features the extraction and reuse of hot sinter off gas from selected wind boxes along the sinter strand, which contributes to improved energy efficiency and off gas treatment in the sintering process. With the next generation of SWGR, Primetals Technologies can provide an energy optimized, emission optimized and environmentally friendly solution that meet customer requirements and country specific regulations. This paper demonstrates the latest developments in selective waste gas recirculation, especially results from pot grate tests and comparison from lab to real plant data. Furthermore theoretical finding and mathematical modelling is presented.

Aug 16, 2017

By Daniel Suarez

Over the last few years the mining industry has continuously been facing increases in capital and operating costs for new projects; plant expansions and also significant increases in the operating costs of existing plants. To counteract such trend the industry is seeking technologies such as the Vertimill as an option to lower the operating costs of grinding circuits. The benefits the Vertimill offers in terms of lower energy consumption and lower media consumption are well established and documented; such benefits can significantly improve the viability of a new project, plant expansions or upgrading grinding mills that need to be replaced. The paper briefly describes the operation of the Vertimill, recent regrind applications in processing Iron ores where the impact of lower energy and grinding media consumption is very significant because of the large tonnages involved, and also applications as a tertiary and secondary grinding stages of grinding circuits. The paper also highlight the expected role the Vertimill can play in secondary applications and the expected impact on the overall economics of the project.

Aug 1, 2018

By Carlos Gonzalez-Rivera

An alternative cooling curve analysis method focused on the experimental determination of the latent heat of phase changes and phase transformation kinetics is proposed in this work. The method analyses the cooling process of a metallic sample, initially liquid that is contained into a cylindrical metallic mold, both of known weight, thermally isolated at its top and bottom. The method is based on an energy balance associated with the experimental measurement of the temperature change of the sample and the mold during their cooling process. From the numerical processing of the cooling curves, are obtained approximate values of the acting global heat transfer coefficient as a function of temperature in order to describe quantitatively the energy exchange of the metal/mold system with its surroundings. These relationships and other experimental data are used to process the cooling curve of the sample and the mold during solidification, in order to obtain the latent heat of solidification.The method was applied experimentally to zinc and tin of commercial purity, initially liquids and contained into stainless steel molds in order to determine its ability to measure the latent heat of solidification. The obtained results suggests that this method shows a good potential to characterize the solidification of metals.

Oct 30, 2017

By Cláudio Batista Vieira

Nos últimos dez anos grande atenção tem sido dada a tecnologia de realidade virtual, sendo sua aplicação cada vez mais marcante para o desenvolvimento de ambientes virtuais imersivos em diferentes áreas. Nesse trabalho é apresentada uma descrição da plataforma inovadora em realidade virtual de uma planta industrial de produção de ferro-gusa verde. O modelo 4D do alto-forno a carvão vegetal contempla o projeto detalhado de engenharia dos equipamentos e a partir da integração de softwares e hardwares foi modelado um ambiente tecnológico em realidade virtual de alto grau de realismo. Essa plataforma foi customizada para ser utilizada como Indústria-Escola de Educação Profissional para escolas técnicas, universidades, institutos de pesquisa, indústrias e museus. A Usina-Escola Siderúrgica utiliza um sistema de blended learning, agregando assim as vantagens existentes tanto na modalidade do ensino presencial tradicional, como na abordagem do ensino a distância.

Aug 1, 2018

By Horst Kappes

Tradicionalmente, a escória é descartada em poços secos ou granulada com água, gerando um produto de maior valor agregado devido à vitrificação e consequente aproveitamento na indústria de cimento. Com larga experiência em granulação e mais de 260 referências do sistema INBA®, a Paul Wurth agora apresenta a solução mais robusta do mercado para granulação a seco. Promovendo a granulação através da injeção de esferas de aço, comprovou-se, através de uma série de testes, características iguais ou superiores à da escória granulada com água. Uma apresentação desta tecnologia bem como uma narrativa de sua trajetória e os resultados parciais obtidos é descrito neste trabalho.

Aug 2, 2018

By Fabrício Tibúrcio Silva Araújo

O AutoLog é uma solução em tecnologia de automação e informação para controle absoluto do carregamento e descarregamento de caminhões em um grande cliente no ramo de fertilizantes. Seu objetivo é garantir uma operação autônoma que otimize os lucros e reduza os custos em logística. Este trabalho visa demonstrar o problema que originou a solução, a metodologia utilizada no seu desenvolvimento e o seu objetivo final.

Oct 30, 2017