The efficiency of dephosphorisation is governed by thethermodynamic behaviour of phosphorus and oxygen in moltenmetal, and P2O5 and FeO in slag. The equilibrium distributionof phosphorus and oxygen, for a wide range of chemicalcompositions simulating the evolution of slag composition duringa typical BOF blow, has been experimentally determined. Amathematical model for estimation of the activity coefficients, asa function of the chemical composition, was also attempted.

This paper presents a part of work developed inside theULCOS project, which aims at the radical reduction of CO2emissions from iron and steel production, through new routes thatmust be sustainable, i.e. environmentally-friendly, economicallyviable and socially acceptable. In order to demonstrate theirsustainability, Key Performance Indicators are the main toolsdeveloped inside the work package 9.4, “Sustainability Model& Process Selection Tool”, which aims at making complex issuesmore manageable. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are themost useful tools for evaluating and managing not only theenvironmental and economic impacts, but also the social impacts.The assessment of social aspect of sustainability must betaken into consideration, nevertheless the prediction ofsocial impacts is often hard to be done, not only becauseof the lack of a clear cause-effect relationship but alsobecause of the difficulty to analyse and to predict socialphenomena, especially through a quantitative approach.The purpose of this work is to present a methodology, basedon both quantitative and qualitative approaches, carried outin order to develop the social indicator (Local CommunityImpact Indicator), which has primarily taken into accountpossible impacts of a current integrated steelworks on thecommunities within the close vicinity of the plant operations.

Based on a model of microstructure evolution, an appropriate rolling schedule has been worked out to produce ultrafine grained steel (2 to 5 μm) on the hot strip mill. This rolling schedule is characterized by a large reduction in the finishers followed by strong cooling. Implementing such a rolling schedule on a conventional HSM raises major problems: increased rolling torque and force, lowered crown and shape control, disturbed looper control, accelerated roll damage, increased slip between strip and roll, insufficient cooling efficiency. These problems have been solved on the new Nakayama HSM by introducing innovative processes such as: single roll drive with different diameter and a new CVC, curtain wall cooling in the finisher, low inertia hydraulic looper, new high-speed steel rolls with solid lubrication.

This article presents research results obtained in the 4th framework (1994-1998) of the Standards, Measurements and Testing (SM& T) Program of the European Union, DG XII: the IMMACO project (Improvement of Means of Measurements on Archaeological Copper Alloys for characterization and Conservation). One of the aims of this project was to study copper alloy compositions of European objects dating from the Bronze Age to Roman times. This work has revealed that five types of alloys seem to be particularly representative of what was produced in these countries during this period. These alloy compositions will be certified as reference materials by the European Union. In the second part, artificial patinas have been made on the different bronze alloys using electrochemical polarizations as surface modification techniques. The characterization of the corrosion surfaces and interfaces formed during the treatment with "light microscopy" (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDX, X-Ray maping) have shown that the artificial patinas seem to be very close to those from excavations. As a consequence, the patined samples can be used as a substitute for genuine artifacts in the future to improve conservations techniques.

This article presents and discusses some modern techniques for high resolution orientation measurements in electron microscopy, including electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) in the scanning electron microscope and spot and Kikuchi diffraction as well as dark field conical scanning in the transmission electron microscope. The techniques are compared with respect to their applicability to studies of nucleation processes during recrystallization of highly deformed metals. These investigations make high demands on orientation measurements, as high spatial and angular resolution and insensitivity to lattice defects are required.

The demand for precious metals by manufacturers of electricaland electronic equipment has increased significantly over thepast few years. Although precious metal concentrations inappliances are very low, these metals have a high economicand environmental relevance compared to other substancespresent in much higher quantity (e.g. iron, copper, plastics). Thisresearch project aims at describing and quantifying the flowsof small waste electrical and electronic equipment (sWEEE)in Germany and in the USA for the year 2007, based on acombination of expansive experimental investigations carriedout at TU Berlin and a review of the relevant literature. Theresults revealed that, in 2007, only around a third of the goldcontained in desktop personal computers was recovered inGermany, and over 60% was lost for the cycling economy.Despite the lack of data, insufficient collection and losses ofprecious metals due to inadequate treatment were identifiedas the main weaknesses of the system. The results reveal newfindings on precious metal cycles and support the developmentof strategies for reducing the losses of precious metals relatedto electronic waste management. The method is not only usefulfor assessing the recovery of valuable substances, but also forquantifying systematically the amount of hazardous substancesthat is disposed of in an environmental-sound way versus directreleases to the environment.

The microtexture components of `brass-type' shear bands developed by plane strain compression in twinned C-{112}<111> oriented silver single crystals have been characterized in detail by SEM/EBSD. The twinned matrix exhibits three different reorientation tendencies : 1) a general lattice rotation of the twinned matrix towards the {111}<112> position ; 2) a crystal lattice rotation, within the shear bands, around TD towards {110}<001> which favours the operation of two highly stressed coplanar slip systems of {111}<101> type ; 3) the formation of near S-Brass {123}<634>-{011}<112> texture components by non-equilibrium slip within the shear bands. In low SFE materials the strong intensities of these components result from a saturation of the microstructure by shear bands.

Substituting used tyres for anthracite in the EAF in France and inBelgium is reported. First trials have been carried out in Lorraine in1997 in the frame of a partnership between Usinor (now ArcelorMittal), Michelin and Ademe. The substitution process has beeneventually implemented by LME in cooperation with Aliapur over theyears 2002-2003. Industeel Belgium got started on substitution in2004. To day, both steel plants have achieved stable operation, witha regular load of 8 to 12 kg used tyres per ton of steel, thus allowingsignificant and sustainable savings on anthracite.

Several innovations in the casting of steel into ingots have found their full application in continuous casting. Bessemer made significant contributions in this area, but the decisive developments were made by others between 1920 and 1950 in the USA, England, Germany, etc. After the casting of billets became a well established process, new developments allowed to apply the process to slab casting and a high degree of performance is reached now. The direct casting of thin products, first attempted by Bessemer, is just becoming industrial reality.

The original viscoplastic framework at low homologoustemperature is based on the coupling of the E. Rauch'soriginal approach for mixing athermal and viscous termin the flow stress of ferritic steels, a general viscoplasticpotential and a microstructure based quasi-static behaviorlaw. The formalism gives accurate results in excellentagreement with available experimental results with only twoadjusted parameters, over a wide range of strain rates andtemperatures.

les différentes méthodes qui utilisent l’essai d’indentation pour estimer la ténacité sont revues et commentées. Pour les matériaux fragiles, les formules sont principalement basées sur la mesure des fissures formées par l’indenteur ou, si l’essai est instrumenté, sur les décrochements (pop-in) observés sur la courbe charge-déplacement. D’autres méthodes moins connues peuvent utiliser la mesure de l’ouverture en fond de fissure, une équivalence entre la longueur de fissure formée et l’accroissement de pénétration de l’indenteur ou le clivage provoqué par une indentation proche du bord du matériau étudié. Pour les matériaux ductiles aucune fissure n’est visible à la surface, même pour les fortes charges appliquées. Dans ce cas la ténacité est reliée par la mécanique continue du dommage à un dommage critique mis en évidence par la diminution du module d’élasticité avec l’augmentation de la profondeur d’indentation. Toutes ces méthodes permettent de calculer la ténacité avec une incertitude pouvant aller au maximum à 50 %.

A physically based model to predict the strengthening kinetics induced by copper precipitation in the system Fe-Cu has been developed. The effects of aging time, temperature and composition are integrated in the model. The results of the calculations are in good agreement with the experimental observations.

To reduce roll wear and chatter vibrations in its hot strip mill, Eko Stahl carried out roll gap lubrication trials. The trial equipment, the lubricant and the trials themselves are described. Rolling force and consequently electric energy consumption were reduced by 8 to 34 % . The automation system reacted without difficulties to sudden rolling force changes. Three types of torque changes due to roll gap lubrication have been observed. Chatter vibrations have been suppressed efficiently during lubrication. Roll wear decreased. Strip thickness and profile tolerances were affected positively, other quality parameters did not change significantly.

Anthracite coal as fuel for iron ore sintering is compared withcoke breeze. Anthracite is lower in porosity, higher in density, andslower in combustion rate. With higher proportion of anthracite infuel, permeability of sinter bed tends to decrease resulting in lowersinter productivity. Higher fuel rate with more replacement of cokebreeze by anthracite is ascribed to the lower density of heat sourceparticles and to the lower heat value and more volatile matters ofanthracite. A smaller particle size for anthracite is recommended.Some subsidiary heat sources such as magnetite ore and mill scalecould be helpful for more uniform sintering.

Use of stainless steel rebar for concrete reinforcement is increasingworldwide. The enhanced properties of stainless steel prove to be aviable solution when life cycle costs of the structures are taken intoaccount. Austenitic and duplex stainless steels are used as rebarbecause they present an excellent combination of corrosion resistancein concrete, high strength and good ductility.
The resistance to pitting corrosion of various stainless steels hasbeen evaluated by electrochemical tests. Thus, it is possible toselect the appropriate grade according to the environment the concretestructure is submitted to during its life. A classification of theselected austenitic and duplex grades is introduced.

An investigation was carried out to quantify and characterize the corrosion behavior ofAZ61A magnesium alloy joints. Extruded 6-mm-thick Mg alloy plates of AZ61A grade werebutt-welded using a solid-state, environmentally cleaner welding process, the frictionstir welding process. The weld specimens underwent immersion, salt spray, pitting andgalvanic corrosion tests in order to quantify and characterize the corrosion rates of thewelds with the influence of different pH values, chloride ion concentrations and thecorrosion time. The corrosion rates, microstructure, scanning electron microscopy andX-ray diffraction analysis concluded the optimum parameters for the usage of the magnesiumalloy welds for the best service applications.

Standard EAF operate with a large amount or air ingress (on theorder of 30 000 Nm3 for 150 t of steel). This air is at ambient temperaturethus, the nitrogen content and the non-reactive oxygen areonly heated through the furnace and exit with the fumes at high temperature(1000°C). This brings about significant thermal losses.Reference and airtight trials were carried out with the 6-t EAF ofArcelor Research for assessing the gains related to airtight furnaceoperation.

Improvements of hot-dip galvanized products in metallurgy, coating quality and surface characteristics have led to coated products usable for automotive outer panels. With adaptation of processing parameters, if necessary, galvanized products give excellent results in forming, assembling and painting, as well as for functional properties (paint appearance and adhesion, corrosion resistance). This is particularly the case for ExtragalR, which is a pure zinc hot-dip galvanized product (GI).

Ultra-high strength steels with a tensile strength of 1,000 MPa to 1,200 MPa have been used for bumper and door beam since 15 years in Japan. Recently, it has been tried to apply these steels to reinforcements such as B-pillars inner and so on. The application of these types of steel tends to spread. Their formability, weldability and fatigue properties are described. Formability of ultra-high strength steel is different from that of mild steel, and it is governed by local elongation or stretch flangeability that can be evaluated by bendability. Local elongation or stretch flangeability has a negative correlation with total elongation. When strength exceeds 1,000 MPa, delayed fracture tends to occur. However, when measures to avoid delayed fracture are taken, there are no application examples of ultra-high strength steel sheet with 1,500 MPa tensile strength restricted by the danger of delayed fracture.

ULCORED is the concept suggested by SP 12 to meet thedemand of reduced CO2 emission using iron ore and gasbased direct reduction for steelmaking. The concept includesthe use of 100% oxygen, POX (partial oxidation) insteadof reformers, shifter for production of CO2 free reduction/excess gas and the reducing agent being either natural gas or syngas from coal/biomass.