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By Eduardo Reis de Oliveira

O alumínio por suas excelentes características físico químicas é empregado na indústria civil, automotiva, naval e aeroespacial. As características mecânicas dos sistemas solidificados dependem do arranjo microestrutural, mais especificamente do tamanho de grão, espaçamentos celulares ou dendríticos, das heterogeneidades de composição química, do tamanho, forma, distribuição das inclusões e das porosidades. A fusão de metais e, consequentemente, a solidificação, são etapas importantes na obtenção dos metais. Neste estudo iremos investigar a solidificação vertical ascendente em regime transiente do sistema Al-Mg. Está análise investigou experimentalmente o efeito das composições e dos superaquecimentos nas microestruturas solidificadas. Durante a fabricação dos lingotes, foram mapeadas a solidificação de cada liga. As microestruturas obtidas evidenciaram um aspecto essencialmente dendrítico, verificados através da microscopia óptica. É estabelecido no trabalho uma comparação entre os espaçamentos dendríticos primário (EDP ou ?1) e secundário (EDS ou ?2) em relação adição de 1, 3 e 5% de Mg e com patamares de superaquecimento (?TV) variando em 20, 40 e 60ºC.A variação do superaquecimento e da composição química dos lingotes teve influência nos espaçamentos dendríticos, verificados nas medições transversais e longitudinais dos lingotes. Para cada posição analisada foram obtidas uma média dos valores e o respectivo intervalo de dispersão.

Oct 30, 2017

By Eduardo Spinelli Oliveira

Devido à possibilidade de se remover quantidades muito pequenas de material de cada vez, a ablação seletiva por laser tem se mostrado um método muito eficaz para remoção de finas camadas de materiais depositados sobre um substrato. Neste trabalho, um laser de femtossegundo foi utilizado para remoção de um filme fino de nitreto de titânio (TiN) depositado sobre um substrato de carboneto de tungstênio (WC), configuração comum em pastilhas de usinagem mecânica, objetivando fornecer um método eficiente para tal processo. Os limiares de ablação do filme e do substrato foram determinados, evidenciando a problemática do trabalho, remover um filme com limiar maior que o substrato. Um sistema de controle de espectrometria de emissão atômica induzida por laser (LIBS) foi testada, com a intenção de controlar em tempo real, a espécie do material ablacionado, mostrando-se muito eficiente. Os parâmetros do laser bem como da varredura de usinagem ainda estão sendo testados para definir a viabilidade do processo.

Aug 17, 2017

By Werner Klein

The utilization of production facilities in an optimum way, with reliable due date fulfillment, reducing raw material and energy consumption, are challenges iron and steel companies are facing in their business every day. By using an APS system such goals can be achieved to increase the competiveness of iron and steel producers. A sophisticated APS supports the overall planning process by applying complex rules based on product and order mix, its production routings with corresponding processing and transport times and resource availability. Specific technological as well as steel grade and energy related constraints are also considered to meet company specific KPIs. A core feature of APS solution is to react online on deviations to plan during the production process. Deviations such as nonconformance of intermediate material attached to an order, sudden production delays, unavailability of important production resources, makes it necessary to update the production plan. In general the task of APS is to support the preferred work-to-order concept, by assigning work-orders to available production facilities along the product specific process route and generate optimized material sequences for critical work centers.

Aug 17, 2017

By Luciano França Rocha

A medição online de umidade de finos de minério de ferro sempre foi uma informação muito desejada nas plantas de pelotização de minério de ferro. Controlar a umidade do pellet feed produzido pela unidade de filtragem além de possibilitar maximizar a produção deste setor da planta garante uma maior estabilidade no processo de pelotamento e de endurecimento. Para conseguir entregar esta medição à sala de controle, iniciamos um projeto utilizando a metodologia Design For Six Sigma para desenvolver uma forma de medição desta grandeza. Inicialmente foi feita uma revisão bibliográfica sobre o assunto. Posteriormente, foram realizadas visitas técnicas que eliminaram algumas possíveis tecnologias de medição. Finalmente, foram avaliadas as tecnologias de Absorção de RF e medição por um braço robótico para serem avaliadas. O primeiro teste industrial foi realizado com um medidor de absorção de RF que não apresentou bons resultados. A faixa de interesse de medição é muito estreita (9% a 11% de umidade). Esse fato exige uma boa precisão do equipamento para que a medida tomada do processo seja útil e sua incerteza não ocupe toda a faixa. Como nenhuma das tecnologias de medição online existentes no mercado se mostrou precisa suficiente para a aplicação, a alternativa foi utilizar um braço robótico para coletar, secar e medir a umidade através do método tradicional feito por um robô. Esta última alternativa se mostrou robusta e adequada ao controle de processo da unidade de filtragem, produzindo resultados confiáveis e precisos.

Jul 30, 2018

By Ernst Lindemann

The SMS group has developed the ultrasound technology “HD scan” for inspection of the internal quality of as-cast products. This method of sample analysis requires less preparation work and is safer than the current, most common technique of etching and/or sulphur printing. Furthermore, this technology offers a three-dimensional view into the sample of the cast product and thus more representative information for a better quality evaluation. The internal quality evaluation can be performed automatically and objectively by software based on clear statistical methods. A quantitative centerline segregation rating can be assigned to each sample, based on the size and distribution of segregates detected by the unit. Internal crack statistic (length, position, orientation, etc.) and narrow side profile can also be measured. Grain macrostructure can also be visualized which allows for a potential optimization of casting parameters like strand cooling, soft reduction or electromagnetic stirring. The accuracy of the new method was proven by parallel metallographic investigations of more than 100 samples of different steel grades and sample shapes. Automatic defect evaluation and classification was compared against macroetching results. It was found that HD scan identified more defects and the visualization of the macro structure could be performed in more cases than with macro etching. All tests, comparisons, further developments and analyses for various steel producers and steel treatment companies have been conducted at the HD scan unit, located at the SMS group headquarters in Düsseldorf, Germany (Figure 1). Based on the results, SMS group has designed a unit which can be used in industrial scale.

Aug 17, 2017

By Jürgen Schanderl

Cold rolling mills by SMS Siemag are well known for their reliability and long-life cycle. They are an investment in the future. Nowadays mill owners are under considerable competitive pressure and are asked to organize production in a more and more efficient and flexible way. Doing so, a number of elevating screws have to be turned. These are: cutting of operation costs, especially by more efficient equipment and processes as well as transition to more process flexibility to fulfil future product requirements. To support owners in their effort, SMS Siemag offers convincing solutions in cold rolling technology under the brand X-Roll 2.0. Examples to be presented are: Sieflex®-HT drive technology; Redesigned DS system; New reel design: Twin Reel; Emulsion compact unit ECU Compact; TRC® threading assistance system; ECOMode and Energy ADVISOR monitoring system.

Jul 30, 2018

By José Fagundes Junior, Cleudson dos Santos Rego, Bruno Bastos da Silva Murad, Vitor Borlot Borba

Since the startup in 2002, the Hot Strip Mill at ArcelorMittal Tubarão has increased gradually the coil output as the customers demand new and more resistant dimensionally challenging (thinner and/or wider) steel grades. As a critical feature for customer applications, improvements have been carried out aiming a higher thickness performance and reduction of internal losses while still meeting the more restrict tolerances booked by the customers. This paper presents the recent thickness performance evolution since 2017 and the main actions deployed to improve it.

Oct 1, 2019

By Stanislas Mauuary

Price pressure is a real challenge on the stainless steel market. With market globalization, increase production capacity and exorbitant raw material, the margins are squeezing for stainless strip producers. Primetals Technologies offers a wide range of advanced technological solutions to secure the margins of our customers. Our solutions, implemented with professional project management, allow an optimum coil to market time, securing then the return on investment for the investor. Among the possible lever used to optimize the production route, one drastic step can be made to cut rolling time and cost by replacing the common 20-Hi mill stand reversing process by state of art high capacity X-HI® stands in continuous rolling line. Other source of savings can be implemented by integrated several process steps together (rolling, annealing, pickling, skin passing), achieving then savings on stocks and logistics while coil processing is reduced to fraction of hour. Additional solutions can also be implemented on the new, as well as existing line, like maintenance free solid state laser welder, skin-pass and tension levelers, in-line inspection system coupled with process and quality management system.

Aug 17, 2017

By Josef Maierl

For the production of advanced high strength steel grades (AHSS) like API X80/X100, dual-phase, martensitic and complex-phase grades a number of hot strip mills need to extend their limits in terms of power and flexibility. Especially for cooling and coiling of these new materials, Primetals Technologies developed the “Power Cooling” and “Power Coiling” technologies. Power Cooling combines the advantages of conventional laminar cooling or “low pressure cooling” with the newly developed “high pressure cooling” with highest cooling rates for flexible operation. The Power Coiler which is needed to coil those high strength grades especially at thicker gauges ensures reliable strip-coiling for a most economical production. To enhance the reliable production of high-strength steel grades for a wide range of strip dimensions, the automation system with its advanced models is an integral part to the mechanical design. In this context the paper presents examples for the installation of power cooling and power coiling in new and modernized HSM.

Aug 16, 2017

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 Andreas Cestonaro

Roll grade evolution in plate mill applications is traditionally following the development in hot strip mills. New grades normally find their way into service only after being successfully implemented in hot strip production. The majority of the plate mills worldwide are using work roll grades that have been invented before the 1980’s. But today the demands in the mills are pushed by sophisticated product mixes and longer rolling campaigns. The result of this development is a higher wear rate on the work rolls and as a consequence roll hardness is increased and advanced roll materials are used. The backup rolls are also affected by this. The wear rate is higher and the mechanical impact in terms of contact pressure and work hardening is increasing. This paper outlines the results of the roll grade development at Gontermann-Peipers and introduces new materials for work and backup rolls for plate mills.

Jul 30, 2018

By Marco Castenetto

Some of the most significant Danieli innovations in the field of long products are the: i) The EWR® system, through automatic continuous head-to-tail flash welding of billets at reheating furnace exit side, enables uninterrupted production of the mill for endless rolling of straight bars, wire rod and bar in coils. The process is particularly beneficial to wire rod and bar-in-coil mills as it enables production of “customized-size coils” (any coil weight according to specific Customer request) and with extra-high final coil weight, even starting from low-weight billets; ii) The Spooler process is based on twistfree winding of hot-rolled rebars into highly-compact/ultra-heavy coils featuring a unique cobble-free un-coiling capability. This enables high-speed feeding of the downstream cold-processing lines with hot-rolled spooled coils coming directly from the rolling mill without the need of any traditional off-line operation (such as de-coiling, stretching & re-winding). The system results highly beneficial both to bar-in-coil producers and to the downstream lines operators. The latest step forward is the combined application of these two systems that has made it possible for endless rolling of spooled bar in coils, enabling to cumulate the benefits of the two processes, particularly as far as transformation costs are concerned.

Aug 16, 2017

By Cristina Escudero Martinez

The purpose of the Basic Oxygen Steelmaking (BOS) is to refine the hot metal produced in the blast furnace into raw liquid steel, which may be subsequently refined in the secondary steelmaking shop. Appropriated fluxes for the BOF could require low melting point to reduce the energy consumption, to reduce the energy to fluidity the slag at lower temperature and to melt at lower temperature than steel. It is necessary a good Tumble test result and the fluxes do not generate fines which could obstruct the blowing plugs, so we would have a homogeneous flux. A homogeneous chemistry that allows to control the basicity (Si and MgO levels) and a high absorption characteristics to combine the flux with P, S, Si, etc. are necessary. PASEK Dunite is an ultramaphic rock exploited in the north of Spain with a basic chemical classification being olivine and serpentine its principal minerals. It is formed by orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and olivine in variable proportion. Dunite is a very homogeneous and hard stone. The main characteristics are: High hot and cold resistance to mechanical stress (shatter / crushing / abrasion), softening and melting points of a flux, not a refractory material, large porosity which is increased more than 20% when dunite is heated at BOF process temperature, and high absorption level, and stable components with low melting points. PASEK Dunite is a good flux in BOF process and its use is recommended if the BOF process produces pig iron with low Si content, generates high levels of slag and it is necessary maintaining the basicity index and the MgO amount and with high value of hot metal ratio (high amount of phosphorus to remove).

Aug 16, 2017

By Diogo Tenório dos Santos

This property has been studied to characterize the strength a metallic material exhibits when it is machined so it can be regarded as its typical behaviour. As such, it may even be considered as an intrinsic material property. It is usually measured by an index called Coppini index, which is expressed by the ratio between the removed mass of a cutting tool caused by wear when it is used for machining and its initial one for a certain set of machining parameters. In this investigation, the tests were therefore conducted by an established set of parameters, namely feed rate, cutting and depth rates, in which the same wear mechanism took place in both ferrous alloys: AISI 4140 and AISI 316 steels. They were chosen based upon their increasing ordinary machinability indexes. The initial and final mass of the cutting tool were measured by an analytical scale with 0.01 mg precision. Cylindrical rods of 50-mm diameter were machined and the CI indexes showed a remarkable difference between them: 0.080 for the first steel and 0.049 for the second one, i.e., AISI 316 steel presented better machinability than the first one. It was then possible to conclude that this method presents good results in terms of both reproducibility and adequacy for machine shop conditions and it may be applied in a foreseeable future, mainly for metallic materials that have rather low machinability indices.

Jul 31, 2018

By Andreas Rohrhofer

Reliable high end automation and process optimization systems are main factors for excellent product quality, safe operation and maximized plant performance in the steel industry and its designated environmental plants. Primetals Technologies introduces new automation packages for consequent safe and cost efficient production. Many areas within the steelplant interested to be monitored and measured automatically are not implemented in the automation system due to limited access or technical reasons. A wireless, self-organizing network facilitates wide ranging data transmission in previously inaccessible areas and opens up a wide range of new opportunities. With Fluid Guard a system to detect leakages with highest accuracy and reacts properly for all kind of water cooled circuits is available, improving the safety in steelmaking process. Lance Guard can be utilized for all fully automatic and semi-automatic lance appliances, but is especially suitable for the products of Primetals Sublance Standard/2.0 and LiquiRob applications, since these systems make seamless integration particularly simple. Manual lance appliances may also be tested and diagnosed. Environmental plants have become a main part in steelmaking plants. Highest performance in combination with optimized energy consumption is the main target in Primetals Technologies’ innovations in automation optimization packages for dedusting systems. A new approach for preventive maintenance and operator assistance is introduced with the Acoustic Expert System. In combination with the new Ask cloud based system, Primetals enables a 24/7 monitoring and a whole lifetime observation of any equipment within a steelplant. Furthermore it is now enabled to check the condition of the plant at a fingertip at any time.

Aug 17, 2017

By Elaynne Rohem Peçanha

Com o objetivo de estudar a interação da hematita com biorreagente de flotação (Bacillus subtilis), foram realizados experimentos de ângulo de contato. Após a interação com o biorreagente, a superfície da hematita apresentou uma hidrofobicidade apresentando um valor de 46,0º. Os experimentos de potencial zeta mostraram uma interação acentuada entre o reagente e o mineral na faixa de pH alcalina com deslocamento do ponto isoelétrico da hematita. Ensaios de microflotação foram conduzidos em tubo de Hallimond modificado, em pH 6, com uma recuperação de, aproximadamente, 80%. As teorias DLVO e X-DLVO foram aplicadas para avaliar as energias de interação entre o reagente e os minerais. As duas teorias foram capazes de prever a interação que ocorre entre o biorreagente e a hematita. Os resultados evidenciaram o uso promissor do reagente na flotação direta de hematita.

Aug 17, 2017

By Diego Canez Fernandes, Henriquison Bottrel Reis, Mauricio Covcevich Bagatini

As técnicas que visam aumentar a densidade de carga possibilitam elevar a produtividade da coqueria e, além disso, permitem utilizar carvões com menor poder coqueificante. O aumento de densidade pode contribuir ainda para a obtenção de um coque de melhor qualidade, o que contribui para a redução do coke rate no alto-forno. Uma alternativa para aumentar a densidade de carga é a adição de óleo na mistura de carvões, o que reduz a tensão superficial da água, permitindo uma maior aproximação entre as partículas e favorecendo o contato efetivo durante a fase plástica. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da adição de óleo na densidade de carga para diferentes condições de granulometria e umidade do carvão empregado. Para isso foram realizados ensaios para medir a densidade de carga em três níveis de umidade (8%, 10% e 12%) e granulometria (82%, 85% e 88% < 2,83 mm). Posteriormente, foram realizados ensaios de coqueificação em escala piloto, e o coque produzido foi avaliado quanto ao DI15/150 (drum index), CRI (coke reactivity index) e CSR (coke strenght reaction). Os resultados mostraram que a adição gradativa de óleo promoveu aumento na densidade de carga enquanto a elevação da umidade do carvão e seu afinamento provocou a redução desse parâmetro. A qualidade metalúrgica do coque aumentou com a elevação da densidade de carga demostrando que essa é uma técnica com potencial de uso em plantas industriais.

Oct 1, 2019

By Jean-Paul Simoes

The development of the blast furnace over the last years lead to a substantial increase in production capacity and productivity. This development triggered an evolution of the cooling systems in order to cope with the raising heat loads. The excellent protection of the shell by copper staves allowed blast furnace operators to achieve campaign lifetimes of more than 20 years. However in recent years some blast furnaces have experienced severe wear of the copper staves due to abrasion. The influences of the blast furnace design as well as of the operation conditions on this premature wear have been analysed and the mechanisms leading to the wear will be explained. New developments in the copper stave technology are part of the solution for avoiding premature wear during periods with less favourable conditions. The protection mechanisms made available by the new design extend the inherent protection mechanisms of copper staves to these periods. BFXpert® system is the ideal tool for the monitoring of the process data, the process models and the recommendations given by Sachem® support the operator in choosing efficient operation points. The charging with a Bell Less Top® (BLT) allows an accurate controlling of the blast furnace with regard to the optimization of the gas distribution. High performance operation together with long campaign lifetimes are thus made possible.

Aug 1, 2018

By Diego Berti Salvaro

The morphology, dimensions and chemical composition of tribolayers strongly depend on the pressures and temperatures acting on the contact. They are formed by reactions between the surfaces in contact with each other as well as with the atmosphere, lubricants and possible contaminants. In this paper the influence of test time (180, 500, 1000 and 2500 h) into the formation and characteristics of tribolayers in pairs DLC-stainless steel tested under refrigerant gas R134a atmosphere without presence of lubricating oil was analyzed. The characterization was performed using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) (morphology and chemical composition) and white light interferometry (dimensions). The tribolayers thicknesses ranged from 100 to 500 nm and they were composed by elements originated from mutual transfers between the tribological pairs as well as oxides, being more pronounced on the stainless steel surface. The results show that the tribolayers are chemically stable (maintained the same composition over time) and the thickness remained stable after a thousand hours of testing.

Jul 31, 2018

By Pietro Palma

Universal cardan joints are widely used in drivetrains of rolling mills for steel and aluminum making, as well as for non ferrous alloy industry. Working conditions are extremely tough due to high alternating or pulsating rolling torques in the roughing stands and high torques and speeds in the finishing stands. Overloads and lubrication along with oxide and slag are also critical issues that contribute to create severe working conditions. For a constant and reliable power transmission rolling mills performance and uptime rely on Universal cardan Joints which are the most critical equipment of the drivetrain. Fatigue assessment of the most important components of the Universal cardan Joint is therefore definitely vital for the mill in order to avoid failures and consequently downtimes. Considering the component’s dimensions and weight and in addition the time needed in order to reproduce full scale tests, a new approach to study the Universal cardan joint’s main components fatigue behavior has been investigated. It consists in reproducing the local stress condition of the main joint components on small scale specimens that can be tested by conventional laboratory fatigue machines. The aim of this study is to analyze the most critical stress concentration areas in the universal cardan joints highlighting how a universal cardan joint Wöhler curve can be determined through laboratory tests of small scale specimens.

Aug 16, 2017