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By John Anthony Vasquez

During the last years Riva Acciaio Verona has taken the decision to invest in the route of a fully automated meltshop. The aim is to reduce at the minimum the operator's intervention from the bucket preparation till the ladle transfer to the continuous casting bay. The foundation for achieving the goal is the introduction of innovative technological solutions (fully automated cranes for bucket charge in the EAF, robots for sampling, etc. The paper underlines how the different solutions are based on the best practices to improve operator's safety and describes the different steps of the project, the different solutions adopted and the results in terms of production, energy savings, cost reduction and improved safety. Details are presented for: scrap yard management and bucket preparation, EAFs centralized controls and related robots for auxiliary operations (sampling, EBT cleaning, scraper for slag door automation, complete mass & energy balance based on process control), LFs centralized controls and process integration.

Aug 16, 2017

By Andrea Pezza

The steel market is experiencing a difficult conjuncture: on the one hand steel producers minimize their investments while optimizing their over- production, on the other hand suppliers reduce their internal human resources and capacity in order to overcome the instability of the new era. A return to the steel production levels of the past is not expected in the short term. Research, development and plant concept optimization is one recipe to drive the future of the steel business. This article describes a new concept for a VOD plant developed as a result of thorough investigation and assessment of all possible solutions. A joint and tight cooperation with the final customer was necessary to reaching important results. This article consists of the contributions from the plant suppliers in terms of their experience and feedback, as well as the final user’s. The final customer, voestalpine Giesserei Linz GmbH, and the plant supplier, Primetals Technologies, are both worldwide players and highly focused on reaching best quality and innovation.

Oct 30, 2017

By Wolfgang Kern

More and more coke oven plants worldwide face the task to improve their emission reduction at their coke oven batteries. In the 90’s PROven® was invented and developed by DMT to regulate the inner pressure of a single coke oven chamber. Generally, most of the coke oven chambers can only close and open their connection to the collecting main but without the possibility to regulate the pressure during the carbonization time. Through the installation of PROven® the load on the coke oven door sealing system and the charging lids will be decreased and so does the emissions of crude COG as well. The current PROven® system, installed in the collecting main, does not only regulate the chamber pressure, it replaces the valve between the goose neck and the collecting main, too. This variable pressure control allows decreasing the leakages at the emissions sources to a minimum and allows operating the collecting main under optimum pressure. Subsequently, this will lead to enhanced emission reduction. PROven® proved its value with more than 2,100 units installed by licensee worldwide. Nevertheless, DMT is always focused on its client’s needs and therefore enhance PROven® to provide the Best Available Technique (BAT). Among the main features of the now available system is the plain arrangement with a higher reliability and the possibility to install the system outside of the collecting main without modifying it. Hence, upgrading coke oven plants during operation is possible without any noticeable impact on the plant operation.

Aug 1, 2018

By Camila Simon Christ

O desenvolvimento de aços de alta resistência associados à boa tenacidade é uma alternativa para redução de custos na construção e instalação de oleodutos e gasodutos, devido à possibilidade de redução da espessura dos tubos sem que seu desempenho seja afetado. Os aços da classe API (American Petroleum Institute) pertencem ao grupo de aços ARBL (Alta Resistência Baixa Liga) que possuem as combinações desejáveis de resistência à tração, ductilidade, tenacidade e soldabilidade. No processo de laminação a quente o comportamento dos aços está diretamente relacionado aos parâmetros de processamento como temperatura, deformação, taxa de deformação, taxa de resfriamento e tempo entre passes. O controle desses parâmetros é importante na determinação da microestrutura e propriedades mecânicas do material. O objetivo deste trabalho é estudar o comportamento termomecânico do aço API 5L X80M–PSL2 através de ensaios de torção a quente isotérmicos. Através desses ensaios serão determinados a tensão e deformação de pico, tensão e deformação crítica e a porcentagem de amaciamento do material.

Aug 8, 2018

By Francisco Gil Coury

Ligas Al-Mn-Ce são de grandeinteresse por formaremfases e microestruturasde aplicação promissora, como quasicristais, fase amorfa e ligas cristalinas de alta resistência. Entretanto, pouca atenção foi dada àdeterminação do diagrama de fase desse sistema. Este trabalho apresenta uma avaliação termodinâmica preliminar das fases ternárias Al8Mn4Ce e Al10Mn7Ce2, compostos da região de maior interesse deste sistema:as composições ricas em Al. A avaliação termodinâmica foi feita considerando os dois compostos como fases estequiométricas. A energia livre destas fases foi estimada a partir de dados experimentais obtidos por análise de calorimetria diferencial de varredura, microscopia eletrônica e difração de raios X e as seções isotermas existentes na literatura, empregando ligas obtidas por fusão a arco. Os resultados indicam que foi possível produzir as fases de interesse pela metodologia proposta, e que os parâmetros estimados para a energia livre de ambas as fases permitem reproduzir adequadamente secções isotermas do diagrama ternário em diferentes temperaturas.

Aug 16, 2017

By Cintia Guimarães Ferreira

O uso de materiais compósitos possibilitou relevante avanço tecnológico em áreas biomédicas e industriais. As matrizes poliméricas reforçadas por Fibra de Vidro são predominantes em nível comercial devido à facilidade no processo de fabricação. Entretanto, podem apresentar variabilidade intrínseca de propriedades devido a fatores importantes, tais como: não uniformidade e não conformidades relativas ao reforço e matriz. Inspeções visuais identificam defeitos característicos de distorção de fibras, bolhas superficiais e áreas secas de impregnação. Para detectar porosidades, trincas ou delaminações outros métodos são necessários. Este estudo apresenta a técnica de Radiografia Direta (RD) para a inspeção de materiais compósitos. Utilizou-se um detector Flat Panel do tipo silício amorfo (aSi), uma fonte de raios X de potencial constante e uma mesa controlada por Arduino. Foram realizadas radiografias de duas juntas de 4 polegadas de diâmetro nominal de material polimérico reforçado por fibra de vidro. Como resultado, foram detectados defeitos de delaminação, descolamento, trincas e porosidades, que não poderiam ser detectados visualmente.

Oct 30, 2017

By Francois Mignard

With a limited global steel production growth, automotive application market shows interesting volumes and trends especially in emerging countries. The recent period has again enabled Siemens VAI to confirm a position amongst leading suppliers of new plants serving high-end steel production in particular for unexposed and exposed automotive material. With a series of recent plant references in operation and under construction, relevant answers to such sustained level of performances are highlighted along the downstream processes. Designed for a wide range of applications, Siemens VAI processing lines includes advanced technological and state-of–the art equipment, among them, Solid state laser welder, Pickling Tunnel tanks, Skin pass mill and Tension leveller, Side trimmer with dynamic width adjustment, and new generation of Automatic surface inspection systems. With a continuous aim of driving improvements, Siemens VAI has also developed Global Quality Monitoring solutions notably through advanced software which provide just-in-time warnings and assist steel makers in the daily operation of their lines. As lifecycle partner, Siemens VAI offers solutions and services in metallurgical expertise from metallurgical modelling, through physical simulation on rolling, annealing and galvanizing processes, and enables Siemens to accompany our customers along with their project definition till fulfilment of highest market requirements.

Jul 30, 2018

By Carlos Martins de Oliveira

The trucking industry is constantly seeking improvement and cost reduction of their vehicles, studying new lighter and robust materials to meet the needs of its customers. The objective of this work is to study the application of DCPD Telene, PU. R. RIM and PP-TD 20 materials in aesthetic components of trucks: bumper, calender, upper and lower bracket and side air deflector. A multifunctional work team was created to work in such parts of IVECO trucks. The work began with an analysis of possible improvements to the current parts and followed the subsequent phases: definition of new materials, virtual modeling, new tools, and durability test in vehicles. It could then be verified that the proposed DCPD Telene, PUR. RIM and PP-TD 20 materials showed greater strength, better painting surface, and reduced weight and cost in parts.

Aug 8, 2018

By Bernardo Siqueira

This paper presents a unique stirred milling technology, Outotec HIGmill™, a modern, flexible and energy efficient grinding solution for fine and ultra fine grinding being tested in an industrial scale level. The test was performed at an iron ore pellet producing plant in Sweden (for confidentiality reasons, it will be referred to only as “the client”) where a pilot HIGmill™ unit (HIG25) was installed parallel to a conventional regrind circuit to compare its performance to the existing ball mill. By using a continuous test run procedure and evaluating the parameters of F80, P80, mill shaft rotation speed and power drawn it was determined its grinding capabilities, operational flexibility and energy efficiency. Outotec HIGmill™ outperformed the existing ball mill in the plant proving its capabilities to grinding finer, with steeper particle size distribution (PSD) and much higher energy efficiency. The tests performed showed that, with further refining of its operation, it is capable of consistently deliver the required PSD with up to 30% higher grinding efficiency.

Aug 16, 2017

By Álvaro Lúcio

This paper outlines the DPC process as na economic and environment friendly option for the use of cultivated forest as a source of raw material for metallurgical charcoal.The DPC process was specially developed to bring logistic, environmental, technical, economic and global energy efficiency when compared to termal1 the existing biomass carbonization process. The DPC process utilizes the volatile materials (condensable and non condensable) as a source of the energy required by the carbonization process guarantying its complete combustion. As result the DPC process avoids the burning of termal1 the loaded wood, obtaining a higher charcoal to biomass yield, and avoids the emission to the atmosphere of polluting gases. Gases emitted by the carbonizing wood have na energy termal1e enough to dry the wood soon after its harvesting. By avoiding the storage in the field during na average of 150 days, the resulting economy is quite significant. As a termal1e1 the higher charcoal to biomass yield na termal1e1e economy is obtained through the reduction of the cultivated forest term. This paper emphasizes the economic advantages of the DPC process.

Aug 16, 2017

By Jefferson Lisboa Lelis, Marcos Roberto Soares da Silva, Maiara Rodrigues Gouveia

Nowadays, due the development of new hot rolled strips at USIMINAS, established the necessity of realizing studies to define new parameters for the welding machine of new pickling line, in order to improve mechanical and metallurgical properties of these materials. The aim of this study was to evaluate the weldability of high strength low-alloy steel with low boron content with tensile strength above 600MPa.The influence of energy input and preheating temperature on the mechanical properties of hot rolled strips were analyzed at three distinct thickness (2, 4 and 6 mm). To perform these evaluations were used tensile test, micro-hardness, metallography (micro and macro examination) and scanning electron microscopy analysis. In resume, a good welding performance was achieved, increasing preheating temperature and the welding energy higher than 60%.

Oct 13, 2019

By Juliano Braz Possatti, Arnaldo Carneiro Salles, Cleudson dos Santos Rego, Leandro de Lucas Mendes

The increase in customer demand for steels with higher surface requirements, associated with the need to increase ArcelorMittal Tubarão's HSM productivity, it was necessary the development of controls and actions to reduce scale losses within the scenario of high productivity. This article describes the path followed by the hot strip mill team in order to reduce the occurrence and severity of scales.

Oct 10, 2019

By Laurent Dorel, Sebastien Maillard, Afchine Nasserian, Jean-Paul Faure

Surface quality monitoring is primarily implemented in the last steps of steel manufacturing before shipment to the end user. However, an increasing trend for also addressing this topic in the upstream stages, such as hot rolling plant, is tackled by Primetals Technologies to give steel producers the key to a global optimized yield management, and efficient “lessons learned” processes. After the last developments of SIAS Next Gen platform, including High Resolution and Near Infra-Red, some site results will be exposed on the very specific high constraints lines such as ESP Endless Strip Production and Plate Mills, and highlights the related most interesting aspects for our customers.

Oct 1, 2019

By Eduardo Vitral

The present study focuses in the simulation of pattern formation by ion beam sputtering on a material surface. This process is responsible for the appearance of unexpectedly organized patterns, such as ripples, nanodots and hexagonal arrays of nanoholes. A numerical analysis of preexisting patterns is proposed to investigate surface dynamics, based on a model derived from a Kuramoto-Sivashinsky anisotropic equation, in a two dimensional surface with periodic boundary conditions. While deterministic, its highly nonlinear character gives a rich range of results, making it possible to describe accurately different patterns. A finite-difference semi-implicit splitting scheme is employed on the discretization of the governing equation. Simulations were conducted with realistic coefficients related to physical parameters (anisotropies, beam orientation, diffusion). The study dealt with a random and a monomode 1D structure initial condition in order to understand how the shape and wavelength of the initial pattern evolve with time. Ripples and hexagonal patterns were observed in the results, being physically consistent with the phenomenon. Moreover, the Method of Manufactured Solution has been used as verification of the developed numerical scheme.

Aug 16, 2017

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 Michaela Böberl

State of the art sinter coolers are working based on the cross flow cooling principle. Thus, only a part of the thermal energy can be used for heat recovery application. The other part of the cooling air is brought unused to the environment. Furthermore, environmental regulation regarding dust emission and intelligent usage of exergy are getting stronger. Therefore, Primetals Technologies developed sinter coolers based on the counter flow principle. The cooling air passes the sinter bed in counter-flow direction enabling a direct heat transfer from the hot sinter to the air. The exhaust gas temperature can be maximized by using the total heat of the hot sinter. Due to the possible usage of the total exhaust gas amount, diffusive dust emission is reduced to zero. Two types of counter flow coolers are in the portfolio of Primetals Technologies. One type is based on a stationary shaft, in which the hot sinter is charged. The flow of the hot sinter is in vertical direction from top to bottom, in counter direction than the cooling air. The second type is a circular hopper cooler. The hot sinter is charged on top of a moving bed. At the bottom of the bed the sinter is discharged. The cooling air flows also from the bottom to the top, following the counter flow principle. Depending on the requirements, one of the two counter flow cooler types can be chosen for optimized and efficient cooling of hot sinter..

Oct 30, 2017

By Elton Douglas Heriger Pereira

Refratários de alta alumina apresentam boa refratariedade, elevada resistência mecânica em altas temperaturas, boa resistência à variação bruscas de temperatura sem se romper sendo utilizados em revestimento de panelas e válvulas siderúrgicas devido sua propriedade anfótero e ter aplicações sobre à ação de escórias básicas. Neste trabalho procurou-se avaliar o efeito de adições de 1,5; 3,0 e 4,5%p. de Nb2O5 em refratário de alta alumina, estes obtidos a partir de uma mistura de diversos tipos de alumina, 5,0 %p. ZrO2 nanométrica (TZ-8Y) e agregado de mulita, sinterizados em temperaturas de 1400 e 1600 °C. Como nestes refratários a ZrO2 não surte o efeito de microtrincamento, a formação de fase vítrea a partir de Nb2O5 e a incorporação de agregados ao refratário foram fundamentais nas propriedades obtidas. Foram avaliadas propriedades tecnológicas como densidade e porosidade aparente pelo método de Arquimedes, formação de fases por difração de raios-X e análise microestrutural por microscopia eletrônica de varredura e resistência ao choque térmico.

Oct 30, 2017

By Jorge Alberto Soares Tenório, Susana Marracini Giampietri Lebrão, Guilherme Wolf Lebrão, Jefferson Salvador de Moraes, Viviane Tavares de Moraes

Os resíduos de mineração ou lamas são derivados dos processos de extração e beneficiamento mineral e por sua vez são geralmente armazenados em barragens de rejeitos, que são passivos ambientais. Algumas formas de recuperação de materiais desses resíduos já foram desenvolvidas, contudo a sua aplicação principal ocorre pela incorporação destes rejeitos em agregados da construção civil, visando a diminuição da geração de resíduos. Desta forma o objetivo deste trabalho é a caracterização do resíduo de lama vermelha visando a identificação de elementos que viabilizem os processos de reciclagem para a diminuição dos rejeitos. Para isso se fez uso de técnicas ambientais de classificação de resíduos, tais como: determinação da umidade; classificação granulométrica; determinação da alcalinidade; MEV/EDS e fluorescência de raios-X. As análises de caracterização convergiram para os resultados quantitativos elementar de 8,3 % de Al; 3,8 % de Na; 6,3 % de Si; 0,4 % de Fe; 0,4 % Zr; 0,004 % de Y, 2 % Ti e 0,009 % de Sc. Esta caracterização pode definir parâmetros que influenciam nos métodos para a recuperação de metais.

Oct 3, 2019

By Henrique Gobbi Soares

Peças fabricadas em aos inoxidáveis austeníticos permanecem íntegras em ambientes corrosivos severos, ambientes industriais, marítimos, na presença de ácidos e gases oxidantes. Entretanto, quando o sua a aplicação além de requerer resistência à corrosão relativamente alta, necessite de boas propriedades em termos de resistência ao desgaste sua utilização se torna restringida. Este trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo da melhoria dessas propriedades restritivas e o aprimoramento da técnica, através do aumento da dureza superficial dos aços inoxidáveis austeníticos AISI 316, utilizando cementação a plasma frio. Para tanto foram propostos tratamentos na temperatura de 350°C, 5hrs, 340 Pa, variando a composição do gás de tratamento. As análises dos produtos de cementação foram feitas utilizando técnicas de caracterização estrutural, difração de raios-X, medidas de perfis de dureza e ensaios microabrasivos. Todas as condições apresentaram melhorias na resistência ao desgaste e na dureza, entretanto o aumento da concentração de metano na atmosfera de trabalho promoveu a formação de fuligem, promovendo regressão das propriedades conforme se elevava a concentração de metano nos processos.

Oct 30, 2017

By Elaine Carballo Siqueira Corrêa

Os aços rápidos são aços ferramentas de alta liga capazes de usinar metais a altas velocidades. Dentre estes, o aço rápido AISI M2 é um dos mais empregados, em função das boas propriedades alcançadas mediante a combinação de composição química e parâmetros de tratamentos térmicos. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da temperatura de aquecimento na têmpera sobre a microestrutura e dureza do aço AISI M2 após revenimento em diversas temperaturas. Para tal, duas temperaturas de têmpera e cinco temperaturas de revenimento foram definidas. As transformações microestruturais foram analisadas por meio de microscopia eletrônica de varredura e difratometria de raios-X. A dureza foi obtida por ensaios Rockwell C. Foi observado que, de modo geral, o aumento da temperatura de aquecimento promoveu elevação nos valores de dureza do aço, sendo que, para a maior temperatura utilizada, notou-se a ocorrência do fenômeno de endurecimento secundário. As análises microestruturais revelaram a presença de maior quantidade de carbonetos nas amostras temperadas à menor temperatura.

Oct 30, 2017