ISSN 2594-5300
54rd Seminar on Steelmaking, Casting and Non-Ferrous Metallurgy — Vol. 54, Num. 54 (2025)
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Abstract
In response to the growing demand for sustainable practices, the steel industry is seeking alternatives to reduce its CO₂ emissions. One promising strategy is the increased use of scrap in the Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF). This preliminary study evaluates the impact of scrap quantity and quality on the cleanliness of API steels, produced via the integrated route with secondary refining (BAP → LF → RH). Three production groups were analyzed: with varying hot metal/scrap ratios (Group 1), with a constant conventional charge (Group 2), and with the use of prime scrap (Group 3). A detailed analysis of inclusions at the beginning of refining revealed distinct dynamics. For Group 1, a direct correlation was observed: an increase in the proportion of scrap in the charge resulted in a higher quantity of initial inclusions. The comparison between the other groups showed that Group 3, using prime scrap, presented a lower quantity of inclusions compared to Group 2, which used a conventional charge. However, the crucial point of the study was the confirmation of the refining standard's effectiveness. Despite the different inclusion levels at the start of the process, secondary refining proved robust enough to equalize the final steel cleanliness across all groups, delivering a product with the same low level of inclusions and in full compliance. The results indicate that, with effective refining practices, decarbonization strategies can be adopted with flexibility in the metallic charge, without compromising the quality of the final product.
IN RESPONSE TO THE GROWING DEMAND FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, THE STEEL INDUSTRY IS SEEKING ALTERNATIVES TO REDUCE ITS CO₂ EMISSIONS. ONE PROMISING STRATEGY IS THE INCREASED USE OF SCRAP IN THE BASIC OXYGEN FURNACE (BOF). THIS PRELIMINARY STUDY EVALUATES THE IMPACT OF SCRAP QUANTITY AND QUALITY ON THE CLEANLINESS OF API STEELS, PRODUCED VIA THE INTEGRATED ROUTE WITH SECONDARY REFINING (BAP → LF → RH). THREE PRODUCTION GROUPS WERE ANALYZED: WITH VARYING HOT METAL/SCRAP RATIOS (GROUP 1), WITH A CONSTANT CONVENTIONAL CHARGE (GROUP 2), AND WITH THE USE OF PRIME SCRAP (GROUP 3). A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF INCLUSIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF REFINING REVEALED DISTINCT DYNAMICS. FOR GROUP 1, A DIRECT CORRELATION WAS OBSERVED: AN INCREASE IN THE PROPORTION OF SCRAP IN THE CHARGE RESULTED IN A HIGHER QUANTITY OF INITIAL INCLUSIONS. THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE OTHER GROUPS SHOWED THAT GROUP 3, USING PRIME SCRAP, PRESENTED A LOWER QUANTITY OF INCLUSIONS COMPARED TO GROUP 2, WHICH USED A CONVENTIONAL CHARGE. HOWEVER, THE CRUCIAL POINT OF THE STUDY WAS THE CONFIRMATION OF THE REFINING STANDARD'S EFFECTIVENESS. DESPITE THE DIFFERENT INCLUSION LEVELS AT THE START OF THE PROCESS, SECONDARY REFINING PROVED ROBUST ENOUGH TO EQUALIZE THE FINAL STEEL CLEANLINESS ACROSS ALL GROUPS, DELIVERING A PRODUCT WITH THE SAME LOW LEVEL OF INCLUSIONS AND IN FULL COMPLIANCE. THE RESULTS INDICATE THAT, WITH EFFECTIVE REFINING PRACTICES, DECARBONIZATION STRATEGIES CAN BE ADOPTED WITH FLEXIBILITY IN THE METALLIC CHARGE, WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE QUALITY OF THE FINAL PRODUCT.
Keywords
Sustainable Steelmaking, Non-Metallic Inclusions, High-Performance Steels, Decarbonization
Sustainable Steelmaking, Non-Metallic Inclusions, High-Performance Steels, Decarbonization
How to cite
Uchoa, Lucas Sousa; Junior, Francisco Necy Alves; Coelho, Hana Livia Frota; Cavalcante, Darlan Freitas; Menezes, Aline Dias; Costa, Paula Renee; Ximenes, Maria Gabrielly Muniz; Lopes, Carlos Henrique; Caldas, Hilder; Klug, Jeferson Leandro.
INFLUENCE OF METALLIC CHARGE ON STEEL CLEANLINESS: A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON HIGH-COMPLEXITY STEELS VIA BOF ROUTE,
p. 946-951.
In: 54rd Seminar on Steelmaking, Casting and Non-Ferrous Metallurgy,
São Paulo, Brasil,
2025.
ISSN: 2594-5300, DOI 10.5151/2594-5300-42728
