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By Lucas Breder Teixeira

O uso de ferramentas de simulação numérica para análise estrutural vem se expandindo nos últimos anos, sobretudo utilizando o método dos elementos finitos. Nesse trabalho são apresentados dois exemplos de otimização de projetos envolvendo componentes de mecanismos de válvula gaveta, realizados pela Magnesita Refratários S.A. Partindo da geometria inicial até o produto final, é analisado como o campo de tensões é adequado a valores admissíveis, conforme modificações de projeto são realizadas. Por fim, é demonstrada a importância desse tipo de estudo para alcançar maior confiabilidade e segurança em projetos mecânicos.

Aug 16, 2017

By Renan Oss Giacomelli

The adhesion of multifunctional coatings on soft substrates is of paramount importance in the tribological behavior of this important class of surface treatment. In particular, scratch and indentation tests have been extensively used in order to assess this property. In this paper, the adhesion of a-C:H diamond-like carbon films deposited on nitrided low carbon steel was evaluated by indentation and scratch tests. The coatings were produced by PECVD onto 1020 steel substrates with two different surface finishing: ground (Sq = 0.184 µm) and polished (Sq = 0.002 µm). Indentation tests using a Rockwell diamond indenter were conducted and the adhesion evaluated by measuring the spalling region on images obtained by using optical microscopy. The analysis of the spalling regions produced semi-quantitative results, eliminating the subjective qualitative analysis proposed by the standard method VDI 3198. In addition, scratch tests were performed using the same indenter and a comparison between the two techniques was established.

Jul 31, 2018

By Ivan César Lopes Diniz

Stretcher Reducing Mill (SRM) is a mill used in production of tubes. It is composed with a set 24 of stands responsible to define the final outside diameter (OD) of tubes. External appearance is critical in this process even though this requirement has no effect on mechanical properties. For this reason, an investigation of external longitudinal marks mechanism is in progress using 6 Sigma methodology. This paper is a part of the investigation with focus on the rolls and its mechanical properties. Destructive tests were performed in the rolls and compared with the project. After a detailed investigation, it was concluded that rolls were out of hardness specification and the project was poor of information. A new supplier was developed (internal market) based on the new project and all requirements were achieved as demonstrated in this paper. A monopolistic market for this product in VSB (Vallourec Soluções Tubulares do Brasil) was eliminated. Concerning the effect on the external longitudinal marks, the new rolls developed within hardness range minimized the mechanism of wear on rolls surface and consequently on tubes surface. A collateral effect has been faced, but still better than external longitudinal marks on tubes surface. The quenched and tempered rolls are more sensitive for process variation, mainly linked with cooling system and temperature of tubes (mechanical resistance for deformation). Nevertheless, a new material has been aimed focusing on reduction of rolls breakage with good tenacity and affordable cost.

Oct 4, 2019

By Luiza Esteves

Corrosion testing was performed in white liquor from a Brazilian Kraft mill. Specimens of duplex stainless steel (DSS) and lean duplex (LDSS) were exposed at 170 °C for 30 days to simulate conditions of the digester. Corrosion rates were determined from weight loss measurements. After this exposure, the corrosion products formed on the steel surface was characterized by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with EDS, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS). EBSD can be used to quantify of basis balance phases in DSS and LDSS. General corrosion rates for UNS S32304 LDSS were higher than the UNS 31803 DSS in industrial white liquor at 170 °C for 30 days. XPS and XRD analyses indicated that the film formed after the immersion test may be consisted by Fe and Cr oxides and sulphides.

Oct 30, 2017

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 Rogério Felício dos Santos

Nitriding of metallic materials using electric discharges generated during electric discharge machining (EDM) is a recently developed technique. The aim of this paper was to correlate mechanical properties of a nitrided layer produced in AISI 4140 steel by EDM nitriding with the type and amount of nitrides. A conventional die-sinking EDM equipment and electrolytic copper electrodes were used to generate the electric discharges. The electrolyte was a solution of urea in deionized water. Knoop microhardness profiles assessed the variation of hardness along the nitrided layer, whereas the elastic modulus of this layer was measured using nanoindentation tests. Optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the nitrided surface. The results showed the formation of a nitrided layer containing iron nitrides with average thickness of around 25 µm. The amount of nitrides reduced from the surface towards the centre and these results correlated well with microhardness profiles obtained.

Jul 31, 2018

By Breno T. Maia, Débora C. O. Silveira, Mariana A. Ribeiro, Daniel A. G. de Carvalho, Roberto P. Tavares, Raissa S. Salgado

Mixing time is an important parameter when considering chemical and thermal homogenization in steelmaking reactors. It can also be relevant in the kinetics of chemical reactions. Different methods have been used to estimate mixing times in physical models of steelmaking reactors. In the present work a new method to estimate mixing times in physical models has been proposed. This method can be used when transparent fluids are used to simulate the liquid steel and the slag. Results of mixing times in a physical model of a BOF obtained with different techniques were compared. It was shown that the new method is more reliable and consistent than the common methods based on electrical conductivity measurements and colorimetric analysis.

Oct 1, 2019

By Jorge Madias

Pin holes as a surface defect, and blow holes as an inner defect, occur in billet / bloom / beam blank casting, particularly for Si-Mn killed steel cast with metering nozzle and oil lubrication. If they are present in abundance or have a large size, they may originate defects in the rolled products. Their characteristics, factors behind their formation, as well as usual processing conditions that promote their occurrence are discussed. Finally, the evolution of these defects during reheating and rolling is analyzed, with industrial examples.

Aug 16, 2017

By Flávio Beneduce Neto

As trincas a quente ou de solidificação em peças micro-fundidas em superligas a base de níquel podem ser um item importante no índice de perdas em componentes específicos. O aparecimento desse defeito está ligado fundamentalmente à quantidade de líquido interdentrítico nos últimos estágios da solidificação e, principalmente, ligado à composição química desse líquido. Há duas ligas amplamente utilizadas na produção de rotores para turbo-compressores ou turbinas para a geração de energia: o Inconel 713C e o Inconel 713LC. A diferença entre estas duas ligas é essencialmente o teor de carbono. Curiosamente, a liga LC tem uma maior tendência ao aparecimento de trincas de solidificação. O presente trabalho procura identificar as diferenças de comportamento na solidificação dessas duas ligas através da termodinâmica computacional e ligar essas diferenças no aparecimento das trincas. Os resultados indicaram que os teores de Zr e Nb do líquido remanescente da solidificação são muito superiores na liga LC causados pelo atraso na precipitação dos carbonetos tipo MC nessa região que deve ser a fase que aumenta a resistência mecânica da área. O correto balanceamento da composição química da liga em relação aos elementos citados permitiu que o índice de perdas por trincas de solidificação caísse para níveis próximos a zero.

Aug 8, 2018

By Rainer W. Kaiser

High wear resistant HSS rolls are being successfully used in the first stands of HSM finishing trains since the early 1990´s. The strong demand of mill administrators to make them applicable also in the last stands of the finishing rolling mill is a major influence factor of R&D efforts at respective roll suppliers. Looking back to the successful replacement of ICDP and HiCr rolls by more economic HSS rolls in F1-4 in regard to the TCO, rolling mill managers wish to repeat such scale gain also at F5-7 stands. Actually used enhanced ICDP rolls wear faster, being the HSM stoppage factor. F1-4 HSS rolls can be used for example 3 times longer. There is an obstacle to be overcome by roll suppliers and end users to replace F5-7 rolls by HSS rolls. Stick and crack resistance properties of HSS need to be improved. As a worldwide known leading producer of cast rolls for steel mills since 1820, the traditional German family owned foundry and machine shop IRLE, existing since 1693, accepted to face also this additional challenge. IRLE´s long year experience and prior researches have shown possible development directions to improve mentioned stick and crack resistance properties of its HSS grade, called SST. A new material of the HSS family is in the development pipe line and is discussed: SST/G. Choice criteria of the development direction, steps to control and guarantee respective sections of an industrial scale production as well as observations and results are described.

Jul 30, 2018

By Cristiano José Scheuer

Experiments were carried out aiming to study the influence of micro-abrasive wear test variables and plasma treatment parameters, on the tribological characteristics of low-temperature plasma carburized AISI 420 steel. The first part of this study was conducted in order to evaluate the influence of abrasive particle size, normal load and counter body rotation speed on carburized sample wear behavior; and the second part was conducted in order to evaluate the treatment temperature and time effect on carburized samples wear behavior. Plasma carburizing treatments were performed at 8 and 12 h, for temperatures ranging from 350 to 500°C; and at constant temperatures of 400°C for times between 12 to 48h, and for 450°C for times of 4 to 16h. Micro-abrasive wear test were performed by mean of a calowear ball-cratering equipment using a polished ball of AISI 52100 steel rotating at 80, 120 and 160 rpm, for sliding distances from 2.6 to 104.2 m. Alumina abrasive particles with sizes of 0.05, 0.3 and 1.0 ?m were employed. The normal loads applied on this study were 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 N. Carburized sample was characterized by mean of OM, XRD and hardness measurements. Worn crater characteristics were evaluated by confocal laser microscopy. Results showed that the transient wear regime prevails along the outer layer length (composed by Fe3C and ?’C), and the steady-state wear stabilizes in the diffusion layer region (composed by ?’C). It was verified that the wear rate and wear coefficient decreases with treatment temperature in the range of 350–450°C and increase for 500°C. It was also verified that the wear rate and wear coefficient decreases with treatment time in the range of 12–36 h (for 400°C cycle) and 4–12 h (for 450°C cycle), and increase for larger treatment times due the chromium carbide precipitation. It was also found that the wear coefficient increases with the increase of abrasive particle size, and decrease with the increase in counter body rotation speed and normal load. Lastly, the analysis of the worn craters indicates the occurrence of grooving and micro-rolling abrasion wear mechanisms.

Aug 17, 2017

By Felipe Darabas Rzatki

Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is a high performance thermoplastic often selected for high temperature tribological applications under chemically aggressive environments. The present work evaluate the tribological behavior of a high performance PEEK composite under ambient and high temperature (30 and 80°C, respectively). The atmosphere was also varied (air or tetrafluorethane). An AMTI tribometer equipped with a hermetic chamber and a heating system was used to carry out sliding tests of PEEK cylinders on 304 stainless steel polished discs (Sq < 10 nm) with reciprocating movement and 175 N normal force. Surfaces roughness analyses were performed with a white light interferometer. As expected, there was a strong influence of temperature on the tribological behavior of the samples tested in ambient atmosphere (25% decrease in friction coefficient associated with a 100% increase in wear rate). On the other hand, samples tested in tetrafluorethane atmosphere showed no significant friction temperature dependence.

Jul 31, 2018

By Pedro Antunes Amaral

Currently there is a constant and essential concern of preserving nature. Over the years the concern with the environment is increasing, new environmental laws are emerging and being applied more rigorously and consequently emerge economic needs and mineral processing practices and other materials. In this sense briquetting becomes an alternative to fine particles agglomeration by means of pressure and or temperature, with the aid or not of a binder, which allows to get a product not only compressed, which presents shape, size, and adequate mechanical properties. The reduction in volume of the material in some cases (beyond the technological benefits) also allows fine materials can be transported and stored more economically, safely and effectively. The production of coke is greater as the content of better coking coal is, thus he low capacity coking coal is not much used in coke ovens. This research aims to demonstrate that briquetting of mineral coals with low coking coal capacity is possible, additionally allows increased coke production, obtaining then a better yield of coke. Basically they take advantage of low price of no coking coals without changing the quality of the coke produced. Anyway, briquetting became a smart alternative to aggregate values, economy and care for the environment.

Oct 30, 2017

By Daniel Mapa Clemente

Processing of tin slags in reduction furnaces was studied in order to optimize tin recovery and reduce recirculation rates of slags containing thorium and uranium oxides. A theoretical approach considering a mass balance of the process was developed and adjusted by experimental results in order to predict the final slag composition. A metallic phase (FeSnSi) was discovered trapped in the slag due to high apparent viscosity, raising the FeO and SnO2 contents of the slag sample. This FeSnSi alloy is rich in tin and its recovery would help to reduce the slags recirculation. High contents of ZrO2 were found in the slag, restricting it from reaching complete fluid phase. Through an analysis of the slag in the CaO-FeOx-SiO2 and ZrO2-CaO-SiO2 phase systems it can be concluded that final slags should be modeled aiming fluid phase at working conditions and additions should be planned in order to control ZrO2 levels.

Oct 30, 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 Claude Gaspard, Stefan Wahlund, Daniel Cavalier

A point of great importance in the cold rolling process for automotive sheet is the cleanliness of the strip, particularly critical in case of batch annealing with no degreasing line or inefficient cleaning before continuous lines. In this specific cases, pollution of the strip surface could be prohibitive when rolling in the early stands of tandem mill with conventional forged work rolls as ground. The strip cleanliness strongly deteriorates during rolling particularly with high roughness rolls: iron fines are generated at the strip surface due to friction and stick on the sheet. It is well known that chrome plating on ground forged rolls in the early stands improve the strip cleanliness. This paper summarizes the results of 3D surface roughness topography studies on forged work rolls, with and without chrome plating, combined with sheet cleanliness measurement during rolling. It shows that a well determined topography has to be obtained on the work rolls used in early stands in order to roll in the mixed lubrication regime, as described by the Stribeck curve, minimizing the friction coefficient and therefore optimizing the cleanliness of the rolled sheet. The main roll roughness parameters to take into account for that purpose are the roughness level Sa, and even more, the Kurtosis parameters Sk, Spk, Svk and Ssk. The ideal surface morphology promotes deep valleys to the detriment of peaks, leading to a roll surface capable of retaining/trapping oil in the valleys, while peaks are minimized, thus reducing the friction in the roll bite and the amount of iron fines produced. To achieve this objective, new grinding wheel technologies are currently developed, in dialogue with wheel manufacturers, to create such ideal morphology of roughness well adapted to HSS forged rolls.

Oct 1, 2019

By Thorsten Müller

In order to increase the production of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) as well as to fulfill the growing expectations of various industries served, steelmakers must have wide- ranging know-how in terms of plant technology, operation, processes, quality control and, last but not least, know-how for AHSS including certification procedures. MET/Con is highly focused on the production of coated AHSS with tensile strengths higher than 600 MPa. Common heating and cooling technologies are unable to handle high alloyed steel grades – pre-oxidation and rapid cooling technologies have been developed to face these new challenges. MET/CON and Drever International have the knowledge to produce newest steel grades with these technologies.

Jul 30, 2018

By Günther Staudinger

Danieli Linz Technology has been honored at 4.1.2013 with the first contract for the exchange of a 350 t BOF converter for ArcelorMittal Poland Dabrowa Gornicza on a turnkey basis. This paper describes the new design features of this converter based on the development of a new Danieli converter suspension system. The issue was to install a new converter (incl. trunnion ring, suspension system and bearings) with maximum volume but keeping most of the existing equipment unchanged. So, the big tilting drives on both sides had to be reused and the existing foundation, pedestals as well as the bearing distance had to be maintained. Further on the welded coreequipment (vessel shell, trunnion ring, pedestals, slag shields, etc.) was manufactured in-house within the pressure vessel division of Danieli Thailand. Due to the huge dimensions of these parts the delivery had to take place in parts which had to be welded together on site under full production conditions of the steel plant. But also the erection had to be applied under this condition. Additionally the main support bearings, parts of the screening (doghouse) as well as an upgrade of the existing relining machine had to be delivered.

Jul 29, 2018

By Lara de Assis Moreira, Vinicius Thiago Lecco Rampinelli

The energy efficiency of reheating furnaces is a continuous challenge, as these equipment consume a representative portion of the total fuel of an integrated steel plant. Therefore, any investigation and implementation which brings improvement in this figure become an important issue for the mill competitiveness. In the case of production delays due to external factors (the condition addressed in this work), whether predicted or unforeseen, the slabs remain inside the furnace with high temperatures in order to avoid production delay during the production restart, elevating the specific consumption and scale formation. This work increased the energy efficiency of the two ArcelorMittal Tubarão’s walking beam reheating furnaces, by reducing the consumption of mixed gas during production delays (either scheduled or not) lasting less than 3 hours. The objectives were achieved through improvements, among them, tuning of Level 2 automation system parameters, automatization of procedures and operational training. The work resulted in a 34.4% fuel gas consumption reduction during the delays.

Oct 1, 2019

By Antonio Favia, Carsten Sowa, Spencer Diehl, Maria Carolina Campos, Christian Green, Marco Tulio, Olaf Schulz

Casting fluxes are one of the key factors to guarantee a good performance of the continuous casting process. Fluxes are added over the liquid steel in the mold, where carbon in the flux reacts with any air present, to form a reducing atmosphere of CO (g) to protect molten steel from oxidation. Then the oxide components form the sintered layer and they melt to form a liquid flux pool. Liquid slag from the pool infiltrates into the mold/strand channel and lubricates the newly-formed, steel shell. It was very common in the past that the addition of casting flux in the mold was made manually by the continuous casting strand operator, where the addition uniformity would mainly depend on the attention of the Operator in process and the addition standard would change from one operator to another, may causing variability on the continuous casting quality parameters. This paper presents improvement of continuous casting parameters such as, stability of flux thickness and reduction of dust in the continuous casting process, with the use of flux distribution mechanism in two continuous casting machines from two different steel plants.

Oct 1, 2019