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By Shibu John

Rising energy demand and steadily decreasing quality of raw materials due to the global resource depletion are great challenges to the steel production today. The FINEX® Process has been developed jointly by POSCO, Korea and PRIMETALS Technologies Austria, to provide the iron making sector with the capability to lower hot metal production costs, environmental pollutions and to increase the flexibility in terms of operation and the choice of raw materials. FINEX® is a new technology combining a gas-based reduction in a series of fluidized bed reactors and a reduction smelting in a melter gasifier. Commenced in April 2007, the first 1.5Mtpa commercial plant has demonstrated the competiveness as an alternative iron making route. Another 2.0 Mtpa, third generation FINEX® (3G) plant was recently installed at POSCO, Pohang Works and has been operating satisfactorily since its blow-in in January 2014. Based on the well-proven plant concept, new process features, the highly competitive production costs and environmental advantages, the FINEX® Process can be considered as a competitive alternative to the conventional blast furnace iron making route.

Aug 17, 2017

By Qingwen Dai

The Marangoni effect is an important phenomenon where a surface tension gradient drives liquid towards high surface tension regions. Temperature gradient, evaporation, disparity of viscosity, and surface roughness and topography are all significant factors that can affect this thermo-capillary migration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of micro-groove patterns on the migration of paraffin oil, and obtain a well-designed texture of micro-grooves to prevent the thermo-capillary migration. Patterns of micro-grooves with differing orientations and geometric parameters were fabricated on the surface of SUS 316 stainless steel substrates. Experiments on the migration behavior with different viscosities of paraffin oils were carried out various temperature gradients. The experimental phenomena indicated that the surface with the micro-grooves perpendicular or parallel to the temperature gradient have a strong impact on the migration performance of paraffin oil. Micro-grooves perpendicular to the temperature gradient exhibited extraordinary slower migration velocity than that of the parallel one. Width and depth of micro-grooves had an obvious influence on the behavior of temperature-driven migration and detail discussions on the effects of these geometric parameters were carried out.

Jul 31, 2018

By Diogo de Oliveira Azevedo

No presente trabalho, processos de conformação a frio e recozimento foram aplicados à liga de magnésio ZK60A (Mg-6%Zn-1%Zr) com o objetivo de determinar a cinética dos fenômenos de recuperação e recristalização para permitir o refino de grão. Para tanto, foi desenvolvida uma série de matrizes de conformação para a trefilação incremental de barras circulares da liga ZK60A inicialmente recebida no estado envelhecido (T5), resultando em reduções de 7,8%, 15,4%, 22,6% e 29,4%. Após cada passe de trefilação, as propriedades mecânicas do material foram determinadas. O estudo do recozimento foi realizado em amostras com o máximo encruamento a temperaturas de 400°C, 350°C, 300°C, 250°C, 200°C e 150°C. Pela metodologia aplicada, foi possível avaliar a cinética do processo de recristalização da liga ZK60A e determinar a sua energia de ativação.

Aug 8, 2018

By Mohammad Masoumi

In the present study, API 5L X70 pipeline steel samples were deformed by hot-rolling cooled in air or quenched in water and subsequently tempered at different temperatures. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique were used to analyze the texture evolution from the initiate state to rolling and tempering state at mid-thickness and near surface plane of all samples. The results showed that the mid-thickness region is richer in {100}//ND oriented grains known as more susceptible to crack formation and growth through. Hot deformed specimen showed dynamic recrystallization grains while quench tempered sample at 700°C evidenced recovery and grain growth.

Aug 16, 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 José Divo Bressan

Present work examines material surface damage by cavitation erosion of metals or the wear phenomenon from water bubbles collapse near the metallic surface. Material surface damage by cavitation erosion is due to wear mechanisms of liquid micro-jets impingement and shock waves. Experimental cavitation in tap water was investigated, using the proposed new design of compact rotating disk equipment. In this device, a rotating disk with cavitation inducers and specimens fixed on it ran in tap water to provide cavitating flow at constant high speed of 47.9 m/s similar to service conditions in pumps and propellers. Two types of cavitation inducers in the rotating disk were investigated: through-holes and pins. Carburized cast iron, aluminum, brass and bronze specimens were tested in this device. The cavitation damage mechanisms were observed by scanning electron microscope. Surface damage in the specimens was measured by mass loss and plotted in graphs of mass loss versus running time. After 25 hours testing, the specimens surface showed pitting formation and mass loss. All specimens presented surface damage: pit diameter size was about 100 or 150 to 300 micron. In aluminum specimen, damages by burned pit formation and plastic deformation could be seen, however, the mass loss was lower than the expected, possibly due to alumina film formation. Present equipment had quite good test reproducibility when compared with results from literature.

Jul 31, 2018

By Daniela Oliveira Mota Guimarães

As inclusões de sulfeto de ferro são indesejáveis no aço, pois são responsáveis por causar o fenômeno de fragilização a quente. A relação entre manganês e enxofre se torna de plena importância para o entendimento desse fenômeno. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo indicar a relação entre Manganês (Mn) e Enxofre(S) mais adequada para a não ocorrência deste fenômeno, e explicar a influência dessa relação nas propriedades dos aços C-Mn. Estudou-se um aço C-Mn com a relação Mn/S 50% menor do que a relação visada na Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional(CSN).

Aug 16, 2017

By Ferry Belisario Benique

A empresa Aceros Arequipa S.A. no seu complexo siderúrgico situado na cidade de Pisco, no Perú, está reutilizando os finos das pelotas de minério de ferro na fabricação de aglomerados (briquetes) para uso no processo de redução direta em forno rotativo na fabricação de ferro esponja (DRI). Dessa forma, testes no laboratório foram realizados com o objetivo de encontrar um ligante ou mistura de ligantes que proporcione um aglomerado com boa resistência à compressão a frio e boas propriedades mecânicas a quente que garantam sua integridade dentro do forno durante o processo de redução. No presente trabalho apresenta-se a metodologia desenvolvida e os resultados obtidos na fabricação dos briquetes em laboratório e na planta piloto de briquetagem de finos. Adicionalmente, resultados dos briquetes após redução no forno rotativo a escala industrial também são apresentados.

Aug 1, 2018

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 Douglas Martinazzi

O processo de soldagem por fricção com pino consumível (Friction Hydro-Pillar Processing- FHPP) um método de reparo no estado sólido que consiste no processamento termomecânico de um pino metálico em alta rotação e inserido em um orifício criado no material a reparar. O pino é pressionado com uma força axial e o aquecimento resultante do atrito dos materiais é suficiente para garantir a plastificação dos mesmos promovendo o preenchimento do orifício e a união dos componentes. Este trabalho é centrado na análise da distribuição de inclusões não metálicas do tipo Sulfetos de Manganês (MnS) presentes em juntas soldadas produzidas por esta técnica com a aplicação de diferentes forças axiais. Micrografias da zona termomecanicamente afetada (ZTMA) foram realizadas por microscopia ótica em amostras polidas e sem ataque para registrar as inclusões. Essas micrografias foram avaliadas via análise de imagens visando a determinação de quantidade, tamanho e área ocupada pelas inclusões nas juntas em juntas soldadas. O mapeamento identificou a distribuição e o tamanho médio das inclusões em função das forças axiais. Concluiu-se que a região analisada é potencialmente crítica no que diz respeito a tenacidade à fratura, uma vez que foi observada uma quantidade considerável de inclusões fragmentadas de dimensões reduzidas.

Aug 7, 2018

By Renan Bueno Wojciechowski, Yukio Shigaki

The quality of flat rolling process depends highly on multiple factors such as applied forces, materials involved for both strip and rolls, roll geometry and its positioning. To calculate the strip shape, a mathematical/numerical model can be applied, showing the final product and how the equipment behaves when changing some parameters. This is usually a time-consuming task for both user and computer, especially when it involves thin and hard strips. By coupling a quick rolling load calculation method as Bland-Ford and Finite Element Method (FEM) for roll stack deformation, it is possible to create an accurate and user-friendly rolling simulator. This paper presents the improvements done in the 3D FEM/multi-slab method and its actual capabilities by simulating two cases of a 6-High rolling mill. Different analysis in this equipment can be easily done in about 10 minutes by using the developed an electronic spreadsheet program interface and the folder generated with relevant results and logs. An operation manual and a commercial FE program plugins were made to aid construction of a completely new model. The code was created in a modularized way to assist the application of this simulator for other operational conditions.

Oct 1, 2019

By Aaron Samuel Young, Hiago Antunes Amador de Oliveira, William Pratt Rogers

Low commodity prices and lack of new high-grade deposits are pushing the mining industry for innovation. Lean mining has been vastly discussed in the past decades as a way to continuously improve mining efficiency. Although very theoretical, lean mining presents a set of new solutions enabled by the digital transformation that the mining industry is going through. This paper proposes a framework for a short interval control system with the purpose to allow timely responses by front line supervisors upon operational deviations. In the first part, the author briefly reviews concepts of short-range planning and lean mining. Then, the materials and methods used for the development of the short interval control system are discussed. Finally, alpha trial results are presented, and next steps discussed.

Oct 3, 2019

By Douglas Glenn Stalheim

Hot strip structural steel coil used in construction, engineering, transport, structural applications and other applications are widely used in yield strengths from 300 – 700 MPa. However, structural design engineers are now not only requiring various strength levels but also other mechanical properties, primarily good formability, toughness and weldability. To produce a balanced approach to a cost effective structural steel, hot strip coil requires an understanding of utilization of an optimized alloy composition designed for the layout/equipment capabilities of a given hot strip mill to produce the desired metallurgy for optimum mechanical property performance. The term “cost effective” does not just focus on alloy design, but also ease of overall processing from steelmaking, casting, rolling and cooling, stable mechanical properties with a statistically normal distribution, no downgrades/rejections and a product that the end user recognizes as being superior to others. The desired metallurgy is simply understanding what will be the optimum microstructure and cross sectional grain size/distribution needed to meet the mechanical property requirements. This paper is a follow up paper that previously described optimum base alloy designs along with steelmaking/casting processing considerations and will focus on proper reheating, rolling and cooling metallurgy/processing strategies to produce quality cost effective hot strip structural steel coil.

Aug 17, 2017

By Levi de Oliveira Bueno

Constant stress testing was used for characterization of creep behavior of a 1Cr0.5Mo steel plate in the ex-service condition. The tests were performed on creep machines equipped with Andrade-Chalmers type profiles, high sensitivity SLVC transducer extensometry, high stability temperature controllers, and facilities for monitoring the creep curves with an automatic data logging system. Ten creep machines of this type were used in this research, in an experimental work that lasted for one year. Three temperature levels were selected: 538, 565 and 593°C, with stress in the range from 52 to 224 MPa producing rupture times varying from 5 to about 3950h. The creep curves were all followed with great scrutiny using data logger scanning rates which enabled storing thousands of readings in each case. The experimental analysis involved measurements of minimum creep rate, rupture time and final elongation at rupture. The data were analyzed according to the classical phenomenological / physical relations (Norton, Arrhenius, Zenner-Hollomon, Monkman-Grant) and also considering five traditional parameterization methodologies (Larson-Miller, Orr-Sherby-Dorn, Goldhoff-Sherby, Manson- Haferd and Manson-Succop). Comparisons are presented among the possibilities of data extrapolation from five different methodologies. Comparison is also made with creep results obtained on a similar plate of the same material in the virgin condition.

Aug 16, 2017

By Xiaowei Du, Xitao Wang, Xuekun Shang

The deformation behaviors under both tensile and compressive forces and microstructure evolutions of cast SA508-4N steel were investigated at elevated temperatures. True stress-strain data were obtained from hot deformation experiments performed on a Gleeble-3500 thermal-simulator under different temperatures (750-1200C) and strain rates (0.001-10 s-1). The reduction of area decreases as a function of temperature from 750C to 900C and then increases. At 1200C, the reduction of area reaches more than 99% with the strain rates of 0.5 s-1 and 1.0 s-1. The dynamic recrystallization under compressive stress occurs at 800C under low strain rate and a complete dynamic recrystallization can be observed when the temperature reaches above 1100C. A “two-stage” flow stress constitutive model concerned with dynamic recovery and dynamic recrystallization was established based on the true stress-strain data. This model shows good agreement with experiment results. Moreover, we developed a dynamic recrystallized grain size model to describe the average grain size after complete dynamic recrystallization.

Oct 1, 2019

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 Catharina Rebucci Ribeiro Orsoli

Com o crescimento do mercado tecnológico, os modelos de aparelhos eletrônicos sofreram adaptações, principalmente em relação aos tamanhos os quais se tornaram: menores, mais leves e com mais rapidez operacional. Alguns resíduos de equipamentos eletroeletrônicos contem terras raras (TRs) em sua composição. Os elementos que compõem as terras raras de REEEs são compostas por 17 elementos (grupo lantanídios, escândio e ítrio) que conseguem suprir estas novas necessidades do mercado. Este trabalho tem como finalidade a reciclagem destas TRs entendendo primeiramente a individualidade de cada tipo de bateria, já que suas destinações pós-uso não possuem rotas definidas de tratamento. Para a caracterização foram coletadas cerca de 4,5 kg de pilhas e baterias obtidas de uma entidade recicladora da USP. Os materiais foram divididos em 12 grupos com semelhanças especificas como: marca e local de produção. Em seguida as pilhas e baterias passaram pelo britador de mandíbulas, e após 3 dias de secagem à temperatura ambiente, os materiais passaram por um moinho de facas utilizando grelhas de 3 mm. O material moído e dividido em frações de 100 g, sendo uma fração para digestão ácida, uma para perda ao fogo e o restante direcionado para a rota hidrometalúrgica para extração, identificação e quantificação das TRs presentes em pilhas e baterias de Níquel Metal Hidreto, visando à obtenção seletiva das TRs.

Aug 8, 2018

By Julián Andrés Ortiz González

This work presents a series of experiments of Fatigue Crack Growth (FCG), which are intended to provide evidence about the main parameter controlling this phenomenon, whereas still no agreement about this, since the Paris´ theory is based on the principle that FCG is controlled by the ?K and the Elber´s theory says that the driving force is ?Keff. For the development of the experiments, some DC(T) specimens were machined with two different thicknesses: 2 and 30 mm to perform FCG tests in plane stress and plane strain state, respectively. Besides this, all FCG tests were carried out with a constant ?K e Kmax, measuring the strain with a Strain-Gage bonded on the back face of the specimen and seven Strain-Gages located on the crack growth path. The data needed to measure the crack opening load, and the ?Keff, were collected through a program developed in Labview. Finally, the data post-processing was carried out based on the ASTM standards and several articles of recognized authors in this field, in order to compare the two positions with the experimental data, and this way conclude which is the most consistent theory with the observed behavior.

Aug 16, 2017

By Marcelo Rebellato, Leonardo Silvestre, Zhang Yongqing, Felipe Bastos, Zhang Weiqiang

This work reviews the new version of GB1499.2-2018 Chinese national standard and specification, which governs the production of high-strength reinforcing hot rolled ribbed bars in China. In addition, it discusses the main concerns from Chinese rebar makers that might affect production and application of Nb-bearing rebars, like reheating temperature required to dissolve given niobium additions, the promotion of bainite microstructure and continuous yielding, as well as Nb strengthening effects. Through extensive investigation involving both thermomechanical laboratory simulations and industrial trial, the existing state and effects of Niobium along the reheating, rolling and cooling are illustrated. At the end, optimum processing conditions have been established to produce high strength rebars for the specified requirements. The adoption of new process conditions reflected in an amount of about 20.0 million tons of Nb-bearing rebar being produced in China in 2018 with required tensile properties and microstructure, and helped rebar makers to reduce production costs considerably. Based on production data, Niobium demonstrated positive strengthening effect for high strength rebars, in particular for small diameter rebars with earthquake resistant performance. What is more, the results of the research enrich the knowledge of the application of Niobium in steels when TMCP rolling is not used.

Oct 1, 2019

By Gustavo Eduardo Praes

A Samarco Mineração S.A., nos últimos anos estudou diversas alternativas para a substituição dos combustíveis fósseis por combustíveis renováveis (Biomassa) em seus fornos de pelotização tipo “Traveling Grate” (grelha móvel). Avaliou-se o uso de carvões vegetais, de eucalipto e de capim elefante, em substituição total ao antracito na composição da mistura. Estudou-se gaseificação em planta piloto, foi realizado um modelamento computacional do uso de gás de síntese e a comparação com os combustíveis tradicionais utilizados em fornos de pelotização de grelha móvel da Samarco. Os trabalhos iniciais foram realizados em escala de laboratório (Pot Grate). Em 2014 foi realizado um teste industrial, com um combustor de biomassa piloto acoplado ao duto que direciona o ar quente para a região de secagem ascendente do forno 02 da Samarco Mineração S.A. O teste ocorreu entre 27 de janeiro a 21 de julho de 2014. Realizou-se uma avaliação detalhada da engenharia deste sistema e de seus impactos no forno de pelotização. O combustor consiste em um sistema para queima de biomassa, o qual gera os gases quentes a serem introduzidos no sistema. Dependendo da configuração, o sistema poderá elevar a temperatura dos gases de secagem em até 75°C, quando comparado a uma situação de referência.

Aug 16, 2017