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By Roberto Silva de Andrade

O inchamento é um grande problema durante a redução de pelotas de minério de ferro. Várias mudanças podem ser feitas nas pelotas para minimizá-lo. Conforme o sínter utilizado se torna cada vez mais básico, pelotas mais ácidas são desejadas. A adição de MgO, assim como a modificação da basicidade binárias das pelotas pela adição de CaO são soluções que têm sido apontadas. Dessa forma, este trabalho estudou os efeitos do MgO a da modificação da basicidade binária nas seguintes propriedades de pelotas: compressão a frio, porosidade e índice de inchamento. Foram preparadas pelotas com até 5% de MgO e com basicidades entre 0,67 e 1,5. O aumento do teor de MgO causou aumento de porosidade e queda de resistência. A basicidade diminuiu a porosidade e causou aumento de resistência nas pelotas de basicidade 1,0. Tanto o aumento de basicidade quanto a adição de MgO diminuíram o inchamento.

Oct 30, 2017

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 Débora Cardoso de Oliveira Silveira, Jean-Christophe Huber, Hamzeh Hamadeh, Kateryna Pastel, Guillaume Brosse

The dynamic behavior of oxygen gas flow, determined by the lance nozzle and blow pattern, is a key factor for determining jet efficiency in BOF Steelmaking. The present work compares the performances of Laval and parabolic nozzles with the aid of the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The Method of Characteristics (MOC) was applied to design a minimum length parabolic nozzle. The results show that the parabolic nozzle generates more uniform and stable jet, with 2% longer potential core and supersonic length and less shock waves. For the parabolic nozzle, the pressure nearby the nozzle wall is higher, which can protect this region from reverse flow of converter gases and offer longer life for the lance tip. Likewise, the flow rate variations would affect less this nozzle. In addition, the nozzle wear was investigated, and the parabolic nozzle has proven relatively less sensitivity to the presence of this deformity.

Oct 1, 2019

By Michael Windhager

UltimaTM rolls have been designed for intermediate and finishing stands of rod and bar and small and medium section mills. The rolls and rings are spun cast, with a highly alloyed working layer and a tough nodular iron core. Microstructure and hardness level can be adjusted over a wide range, which allows us to adapt the rolls to differing rolling conditions. After introducing the UltimaTM concept, this paper will describe the results of UltimaTM rolls achieved in various mill applications, like finish rolling of rebar, and slitting. Special emphasis is given to performance gains when using UltimaTM rolls, compared to standard rolls. This paper also examines the impact of UltimaTM rolls on mill and roll shop productivity.

Jul 30, 2018

By Peter Hodnik, Gabriele Paulon, Herbert Moser, Thierry Gautreau, Loris Busolini

At voestalpine Stahl, Linz a new conventional slab caster has been installed to produce mainly automotive and electrical applications grades, implementing the latest design solutions: tight pitch roll geometry, mould and strand stirring and braking devices, SEN water modelling validation, enhanced roll cooling design to allow dry casting conditions, finely defined slab cooling system layout to control slab surface temperature across the width. To control these design solutions the latest generation of technological packages has been implemented like detailed solidification model based on meshless computational algorithm and a fully dynamic application of soft reduction to achieve sound internal quality results.

Oct 1, 2019

By Rodrigo Seara Martins

Foram realizados testes industriais com cerca de uma tonelada de pó fluxante com teor de flúor da ordem de 1,0%, denominado ultrabaixo teor de flúor (UBF). O testes foram realizados em 29 corridas de aços com baixo teor de carbono acalmados ao alumínio (AA BC) na Aciaria 2 da Usiminas em Ipatinga. Ao longo do processamento industrial, os dados operacionais foram analisados, coletadas amostras para avaliação das propriedades físico-químicas da escória líquida e as válvulas submersas foram separadas para medir a taxa de desgaste. Tanto as caracterizações realizadas quanto o desempenho industrial evidenciaram que as propriedades relativas à taxa de fusão, lubrificação e cristalização estão de acordo com as necessidades operacionais para a produção de aços AA BC. Por fim, os resultados de desgaste da válvula submersa mostram um ganho significativo com o uso do pó fluxante UBF. A taxa média de desgaste foi aproximadamente 40% inferior à obtida com o uso do pó fluxante comercial (teor de flúor na ordem de 7,5%).

Aug 17, 2017

By Gerhard Richter, Norbert Asamer, Gerwald Decker

At various stages during their manufacturing processes - from casting to finishing before delivery - semi-finished steel and special alloy products must be cut and surface-treated as well. The requirements for the individual conditioning steps, however, can be quite different. For example, the work piece can be hot, warm or cold. At any rate, the product must always be perfectly prepared for the next manufacturing step - reliably, in the shortest-possible time and at the lowest-possible cost. For cutting and grinding, BRAUN has developed innovative technologies and highly flexible, tailor-made solutions which meet these requirements in the most optimal way. In particular, BRAUN’s cutting and grinding technologies can also be used for large-scale products.

Oct 1, 2019

By Piotr Kula

Vacuum carburising with pre-nitriding (PreNitLPC® technology) involves feeding ammonia during the charge heating stage before carburising. The purpose is to restrict the growth of grain in the surface layer of the carburised steel. The article presents the influence of nitrogen on restricting austenite grain growth during vacuum carburising and on mechanical properties (fatigue strength, impact resistance) of layers that underwent such treatment in comparison with traditional carburising methods.

Aug 16, 2017

By Henara Lillian Costa

This paper aims to investigate the effects of a possible incorporation of ethanol to the lubricant during engine use on friction and lubricant film thickness, by adding small amounts of ethanol to Group I base (with and without an organic friction modifier) and to formulated oils. Film thickness was measured using ultrathin film interferometry. Friction tests were carried out using a mini-traction machine to obtain Stribeck curves. The film thickness measurements showed that in the region of low speeds, where the elastohydrodynamic film is very thin and therefore boundary lubrication may prevail, the addition of ethanol produced some boundary film, which was not present for the base oils. For the base oil with an organic friction modifier, the presence of ethanol increased the thickness of the low friction boundary film. For the formulated oil, the addition of ethanol reduced film thickness in all lubrication regimes. The friction tests showed some friction reduction due to addition of ethanol to the base oil, in particular at low speeds. For the formulated oil, the addition of ethanol reduced friction at high speeds, which was associated to a reduction in the viscosity of the lubricant, but at low speeds, the presence of ethanol reduced the formation of a boundary layer, increasing friction. For the base oil containing an organic friction modifier, the presence of ethanol increased the range of speeds for which low boundary friction occurred.

Jul 31, 2018

By Ana Carolina Abrantes de Souza

O objetivo deste trabalho foi a obtenção de microestruturas diferenciadas a partir de simulações de distintas temperaturas de bobinamento, e o estudo da influência destas microestruturas nas propriedades mecânicas, em um aço baixo carbono com microadição de molibdênio e nióbio laminado a quente. A evolução microestrutural e mecânica foi avaliada com o auxílio de técnicas de microscopia óptica (MO) e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), testes de dureza Vickers e tração uniaxial, somado a determinação das temperaturas de transformação de fase no aquecimento (Ac1 e Ac3) em um analisador termomecânico (TMA). De acordo com os resultados obtidos, pode-se observar que as diferentes temperaturas adotadas da interrupção do resfriamento (simulando o bobinamento), foram capazes de proporcionar sutis diferenças nas microestruturas e propriedades mecânicas finais.

Jul 30, 2018

By Thierno FALL

This paper describes the study of the work-roll during the hot rolling process thanks to a 3D model built with the Finite Element Method (FEM). In terms of computational cost, that method needs high resources compared to 1D model which are mostly used. However, the 3D model is built to have a better understanding of the work-roll thermal and mechanical behavior during the hot rolling process. The thermal model shows that the highest temperature reached during rolling are within the range of 500°C and 600°C. The thermal field input used to simulate the mechanical behavior of the work-roll shows a biaxial thermal stress state, in the circumferential and axial planes. However, a peak of radial stress is observed in the backup zone. It did not generate plastic strain but could influence the fatigue behavior of the work-roll.

Oct 1, 2019

By Alexandre Schultz Rizek

Esse projeto visou a substituição do sistema de controle instalado por um padrão RUSSULA, sistema esse que controla um laminador de barras e de rolos de 500.000 toneladas/ano na Usina Presidente Vargas da CSN em Volta Redonda, RJ/Brasil. Juntamente com o sistema de controle, RUSSULA forneceu um novo posto de operação para a cabine central, com novas telas de operação, sendo um posto “touch”. Equipado com controladores Siemens S7-400, IHM Wonderware InTouch, acionamentos ABB ACS800 e DCS800, o sistema se apresentava ineficaz, exigindo a otimização do processo, aumento de produtividade, diminuição de paradas, diminuição de perdas metálicas e maior confiabilidade no controle, o último através das ferramentas RUSSULA implementadas no software, como por exemplo detecção automática de sucata, controle de tração, controle de laço, rastreamento do material no laminador, otimização de corte das tesouras e barra fantasma.

Aug 17, 2017

By Jean-François Stumper, Mario Moser, Mark Kruessmann, Volker Langer, Daniel Bastos Martins Cruz, Claude Meisch

The latest generation of probes and casthouse machines provide a wealth of data that has not been available a few years ago. The evaluation of this data gives direct feedback to improve the blast furnace efficiency, the equipment maintenance and design and it allows the early detection of critical or deviating process situations. A stable operation with lower operation and maintenance costs are the final customer benefits.

Oct 1, 2019

By Andreas Jungbauer

Two Arvedi ESP plants going into operation in 2015 will allow a Chinese steel producer to better serve the extremely attractive local and export markets for high-quality, thin-gauge strip products. The energy consumption and the related costs are reduced by up to 45% compared to conventional casting and rolling processes. This also means a major reduction in CO2 emissions. The new plants are designed for an annual production capacity of 2 x 2.55 million tons of high-quality, ultra-thin, hot-rolled strip products with widths of up to 1,600 mm and thicknesses down to 0.8 mm. The project scope also features a comprehensive training and assistance package for plant start-up and operations by personnel from the existing ESP plant at Acciaieria Arvedi SpA, Italy. The plant setup, the trainings and assistance program as well as latest results from the ESP plant in Italy will be presented. While this project is under execution three further ESP lines have been ordered by the same customer summing up now to five ESP lines at the same location.

Jul 30, 2018

By Wolfgang Linden

The emerging demands on higher steel grades call for improvements in the operation of production units and a corresponding increase in automated processes, and therefore international steel producers require viable functions. The avoidance of slag carry-over to secondary metallurgy processes is essential for achieving steel grade qualities and reducing alloys in order to compensate slag residues in the downstream unit. The automatic tapping procedure in BOF converters will be supported by the implementation of reliable measurements used in high-end steel plants. Automatic tapping will help to achieve the following: Reduced slag carry-over, improved yield, increased reproducibility, improved working environment and safety and operation with minimum possible crew. The automatic tapping procedure is capable of being implemented in new or retrofitted installations.

Aug 17, 2017

By Zhi Zhang

The ever increasing demand of high performance rolls in the late finishing stands (F5 – F7) for hot strip mills (HSM) requires better product solutions from roll suppliers. Roll development activities never stop at Union Electric Åkers (UEÅ) in order to meet the requirement. The HYBRID STEEL, a new concept of roll materials especially for the late finishing stands in the HSM, is successfully developed in UEÅ. This paper reviewed the development of previous ICDP as well as enhanced ICDP (eICDP) roll materials, and, the novel HYBRID STEEL roll grade. Rolls manufactured by this new grade have been used in several European mills. A significant improvement over the enhanced ICDP rolls has been observed.

Oct 30, 2017

By Mariana Carla Mendes Rodrigues

The present study deals with the effects of strain rate on the functional behavior of NiTi thin wires. The samples, in the austenitic condition at room temperature, were mechanically cycled 20 times by loading up to 6% strain followed by complete unloading, at 25°C. Four different quasi-static strain rates were assessed: 1x10-4, 1x10-3, 1x10-2 and 5x10-2s-1. The functional properties are described by means of critical stress to induce martensite, stress at maximum strain, energy dissipated per cycle and residual strain. The sensitivity of repeated cyclic deformation to strain rate is also analyzed in terms of phase stability. The results show that the fluctuation in the loading plateau, due to non-homogeneous transformation, increases with increasing strain rate. During cycling, it is observed that higher strain rates result in lower critical stress to induce martensite after the 5th cycle. However, the stress at maximum strain is higher at high strain rates, regardless the number of cycles. The accumulation of residual strain also increases with the strain rate due to the higher applied stress. During unloading, both the elastic deformation of stress-induced martensite and the reverse transformation seem to overlap at high strain rates. The dissipated energy behavior changes between the 1st and 20th cycle. No martensite is stabilized after training, but the intensity of the X-ray diffraction peaks of austenite increases with strain rate, as a result of stress relaxation.

Aug 17, 2017

By J. Kempken

Driven by customers, especially from the automotive sector, the supply of 100% prime quality has become essential. Furthermore the implication of quality costs and the yield of first class products define the steel companies' profitability and overall success significantly. The SMS group together with its subsidiary MET/Con has developed a comprehensive solution to assess the product quality over the production and processing chain. Process and production parameters originating from various data sources of the process automation are examined on their impact of quality related characteristics.Expert know how and comprehensive operational experience is translated into a quality guideline and a regulation framework as the sensitive core of the PQA solution.Once implemented, the system identifies immediately steel grade specific, deviations from ideal standard and proposes corrective actions including a final evaluation for each product at each processing step.The X-Pact® PQA (Product Quality Assessment) system is a substantial tool for root cause quality analysis and provides the required support to the production team. It will become an integral part of the corporate quality management system.

Aug 17, 2017

By Cláudio Antônio Goulart Valadares

O fluxante para aços baixo carbono, aplicado no lingotamento contínuo de placas, apresenta como características a temperatura de fusão entre 1.030°C e 1.070°C e a tendência a cristalização suprimida. Desta forma, o filme de escória apresenta predominantemente a fase vítrea que facilita a transferência de calor na interface molde de cobre e pele de aço em solidificação. Há uma tendência em retirar ou reduzir o teor de flúor nos fluxantes, com o objetivo de minimizar a erosão da câmara de exaustão do lingotamento contínuo, além de ser um risco potencial para a saúde e segurança e do aumento da taxa de erosão da válvula submersa. Este trabalho apresenta os resultados de análise dos filmes de escória do fluxante referência e a sua versão isenta de flúor via microscópio eletrônico de varredura e microscópio óptico de luz polarizada. Mais resultados como difratometria de raios-X e análises térmicas também complementam esta análise assim como algumas características físico-químicas dos produtos em questão.

Jul 30, 2018

By Delio Amorim

Industry 4.0 concepts is the new biggest challenge on the industry nowadays and every company in every industry in every part of the globe is looking to implement this somehow on their factories and machines. To do that on the newest long rolling mills, that brings already onboard state-of-the-art technologies, is for sure a challenge of machinery builder industry, but how to become the long rolling mills built on 70’s, 80’s or 90’s part of this innovation process and connected to the new trends? This is the main mission here, to show some examples of applications that goes in this direction.

Oct 1, 2019