The concept of forced alloys is explained and application examples are described. Systematic experiments with natural test pieces and by computer simulations show that, under the working conditions studied (irradiation, crushing, cyclic loading), the alloy may reach a stationnary configuration. Among the parameters controlling this process, the working intensity is of particular importance. The introduced concepts are applied to the study of the wear behaviour of fast train wheels (TGV). Wear rates and out-of-roundness are found to be proportional to this intensity.

Understanding thermal transfer mechanisms in BOF converter is akey for higher energy efficiency, involving higher production capacityand lower CO2 emissions through low hot metal ratio capability.The developed model achieves a coupled description of the majorphenomena: refining reactions, mass transfers between phases, scrapmelting, post-combustion, slag formation. The calculated exhaustfumes enthalpy is fitting well the measured thermal balance trials withindustrial converter when implementing a detailed description of thepost-combustion. This model, compatible with real-time use, is also avaluable tool for further improvement in dynamic control of the process.

Considerable changes of the blast furnace have occurred during the last 250 years including technology changes (dimensions, ancillaries, charging, casting) as well as operating parameters (fuels, ores, blast temperatures, productivity). Such evolutions have led to a better description of the reactor through internal measurements and more and more precise heat and mass balances and to the formulation of the final blast furnace theory in the late fifties. From the 17th to the 20th century, a number of Scientists have brought their contributions to the blast furnace theory up until the final paradigm shift in the fifties. This paper highlights French contributions to this scientific history, in relation with the advances of blast furnace theory in other countries.

The understanding of the molecular aspects of adhesion needs the determination of the molecular order of macromolecular chains at the polymer/metal interface. Thin supported polymer films are studied by FTIR reflectance analysis (IRRAS). It is shown that the development of specific acid-base interactions at the interface is able to strongly organize and order macromolecular chains at the vicinity of the interface. Microstructural parameters of the polymer are shown to influence both interfacial organization and adhesion.

The formation of recrystallization microstructure and texture in ferritic steel sheets used in the automotive industry is presented and involved mechanisms are discussed in connection with the substructure formed during the deformation preceding the annealing. Nucleation principally happens in the gamma-fibre grains, which develop smaller deformation cells and higher local misorientations than the alpha-fibre grains. The development of the nuclei is then analyzed by analogy with the abnormal coarsening which sometimes occurs after recrystallization. Finally, some relations between recrystallization textures / microstructures and mechanical properties are shown, like the effect of the rolling level on the anisotropy or the decrease of mechanical properties when under-recrystallisation happens.

The corrosion resistance of two aluminium alloys, 6063 and 3003, has been compared using a 0.5 M sodium chloride solution. The results obtained with electrochemical and metallographic techniques show that alloy 6063 is more resistant than alloy 3003 at 25°C. The corrosion rate tends to increase as the pH deviates from neutrality. When the chloride concentration is decreased, the resistance to pitting corrosion is improved for both alloys. The influence of the temperature of the medium on the behaviour of the two alloys has also been studied. In the case of alloy 3003, the corrosion rate (Icor) increases with temperature up to 55°C, but drops back to its room temperature value at 65°C. In the case of alloy 6063, Icor decreases as temperature is raised up to 65°C. At all testing temperatures, the 6063 alloy has a better corrosion resistance than the 3003 alloy.

This paper presents a portable condition monitoring system named MAPREX which was developed as result of the cooperation between the University of Oviedo and Aceralia inside of a research project funded by the ECSC - Steel RTD Program. The system integrates powerful monitoring and data visualization techniques based on the Self Organizing Map (SOM) algorithm. In this paper is described in detail the system architecture and performances, visualization techniques implemented and an example displaying real data from a 6,000 kW DC motor of a hot strip mill rolling stand.

Refractory products greatly affect steel quality and cleanliness. Some examples of interactions between refractories-slag-steel on steel desulfurization and carbon pick up in ultra-low carbon steel during the secondary treatment processes are presented. Consequences of refractory behaviour with respect to liquid steel cleanliness during continuous casting are examined : reoxidation of the metal, transfer of elements in the tundish, alumina clogging, etc. Methods for further improvements are indicated.

The quality and quantity of steel treated in an RH vessel can beenhanced through the optimization of the metallurgical reactionsoccurring during vacuum treatment and with an improvement in theequipment design and plant layout to reduce production-time losses.The enlargement of the diameter of the snorkel and vesselcontribute to an accelerated reaction rate inside the vessel and to anincrease in the overall productivity of an RH plant. With the introductionof twin-station RH plants in connection with a quick vesselexchangedesign, the loss of production time due to ladle transfer,vessel exchange and snorkel maintenance can be significantly reduced.

A Material Flow Analysis (MFA) of cadmium for Europe (EU 27)is described in this paper. In general the purpose of this MFA is toprovide a reliable set of time series data on the flows and stocks ofcadmium as they pass through the European economy.
For the data on cadmium flows in Europe various sources,statistics and surveys were taken into account. Data on importand export statistics, production and consumption of cadmiumuse, hidden flows of cadmium, the recovery and recycling ofcadmium, especially batteries, as well as disposal and losses wereconsidered.
The study includes the whole life cycle of cadmium, startingfrom the raw material extraction, which is the basis for the metalproduction. Cadmium, as it is produced as a by-product of thezinc, lead and copper refinery, is further treated throughoutvarious processes. Within the production and manufacturing,pre-consumer scrap is returned directly to the main productionprocess. Afterwards the cadmium is used within various products,e.g. batteries. After the use phase, having reached the end-of-lifewithin a specific application field, cadmium is recycled. What is notcollected for recycling or returned to the recycling system, is lost inthe environment. Finally, during the recycling process, cadmium isreturned to the cadmium cycle as post-consumer scrap and whatcould not be recycled is disposed.
One important outcome of the MFA of cadmium was the gainedknowledge on available data and data sources within thecadmium industry. In particular, the inconsistency between thedata sources became obvious. Nevertheless a comprehensivesystem was established which summarizes the cadmium flowsin Europe and set up a MFA model as well as the linkages toavailable data sources of the cadmium industry. In addition tothe data management system, the data gaps of relevance wereidentified to support future activities in this field.

The pickling line and cold rolling tandem mill at the Parrows Point Works of Bethlehem Steel Corporation are linked in a continuous processing complex. This complex has been automated by VOEST-ALPINE Industrieanlagenbau (VAI) through the implementation of a comprehensive package of innovative solutions. This project has contributed to improve significantly the quality parameters of the strips produced by the cold rolling plant (thickness, flatness, etc.) and to increase its yield.

MOGADOR is a 2D mathematical model of the blast furnaceat steady state. In this project, it is used to get a better insightof the internal state of the BF, as the new types of operationdiffer greatly from the conventional one. Three importantapplications for the project are illustrated.


The Australian Pilbara blend lump ore, which entered the Chinese market in 2007, is aspecial blending ore. To master its behavior and effect in a BF adequately, themetallurgical properties and high temperature reactivity of the Pilbara blend lump ore andsix other kinds of lump ore were researched. The reasonable proportion and mixing patternof the Pilbara blend lump ore was studied by carrying out softening and dropping propertytests, and this provides technological support for practical production.

The cracking behaviour of the oxide layer formed during hot rolling was studied togetherwith different combinations of process parameters in order to find their single influenceon the surface quality and formation of oxide defects. Several trials were performed onthe CRM pilot line to study in detail the impact of strip reduction, strip temperature,entry scale thickness, roll degradation, lubrication, skin cooling, chemical compositionand humidity on the scale behaviour. In general, the degree of deformation, entry scalethickness and rolling temperatures are the most important parameters and the importancedecreases in that order.

The corrosion risks in a wet flue gas desulphurization systemenvironment are reported. Uniform and localized corrosionresistance of different stainless steels is studied by electrochemicaltests. The effects of chloride content, fluoride content, pH andtemperature on corrosion resistance are discussed. The results showthat duplex UNS S32205 or superduplex UNS S32520 gradesare prime substitutes for austenitic 317LNM or super austenitic likeUNS S34565 grades in many aggressive environments. The lifecycle costs of scrubbers constructed of stainless steels plates or cladplates are compared. The excellent corrosion resistance of duplexand superduplex stainless steels, combined with their increasedmechanical properties and moderate alloy cost afford very costeffective solutions for wet flue gas desulphurization.

The major objective of this research is to develop a 3-D FEM simulationtechnique in order to analyze the deformation behavior of surfacedefects on hot rolling. The developed technique will be applied toquantify the relationship between rolling condition and the processparameters, and the rolling pattern will be tested to verify and validatethe simulation technique. This technique will allow us to quantify theshrinkage of slab width at the head and tail, width spread after thehorizontal rolling, dog-bone shape, position change of the slab corneras the slab is being rolled, strain distributions. And the shape changeof surface defects in hot rolling was investigated using the 3-D rollingsimulation technique. The proposed prediction method of surfacedefect can be utilized to make defect free products in rolling.

A new technology for lubricating the work rolls during hot rolling has been successfullytested in the finishing mill of ArcelorMittal Dunkirk. This new technology allows sprayingvery low quantities of pure oil on the work rolls to reduce the rolling forces by up to20% and with an increased efficiency of 50% compared with emulsions. The lubricant was apure natural oil without any additives.

This paper describes the first industrial application of the new DYNAFLEX oscillator developed by VAI on the two billet casting machines at Lech-Stahlwerke (Germany). Its main features are : no servohydraulic components, a system of leaf-springs arranged in cascade, simplicity of adjustment of stroke, frequency and wave form during casting. These factors suppress the need for maintenance of the oscillator, prevent mechanical backlash and result in a significant increase in machine availability and product quality, as well as in reduced maintenance costs.

Duplex stainless steels are often used today in the oil and gas industry because of theirhigh strength and good corrosion resistance. New developments in arctic conditions and athigh pressure require the qualification of these materials at very low temperatures. Thispaper will present the results of an extensive test program dedicated to assessing thelow-temperature behavior of various heavy-wall duplex stainless steel forgings, hotisostatically-pressed (HIP) connectors and hot extruded pipes at temperatures down to –60°C. Several welding processes were also evaluated. The implications for thedesign of duplex stainless steel production facilities will be discussed.

Laser irradiation may alter the colour of certain pigments used in artworks. Owing to the increasing use of lasers in artwork conservation, this problem becomes extremely crucial especially in the case of a polychromy covered by environmental encrustation. X-ray diffraction analysis and optical microscopy were used to study the crystalline structure of selected irradiated pigments in order to identify the changes that take place upon laser irradiation. Two representative pigments were studied, cinnabar (HgS) and lead white (Pb(OH)2 2PbCO3). The results revealed a change in the crystalline phase or chemical composition, respectively, which can be barely detected owing to its superficial character, which is of a sub-micrometer scale.