Kwangyang has been operating five large size blast furnaces and K-1 BF was relined in March 2002 after finishing 15 years of operation successfully. To secure enough cast pig iron as one of countermeasures to a low HMR at the steelmaking process during the relining period, four other blast furnaces came to increase their productivity in advance, before the start of the K-1 BF long stoppage. Particularly, during the ultra-high productivity operation period from March to June, K-3 BF marked a new POSCO productivity record and a new silicon record simultaneously on May in spite of unstable sinter consumption due to the width extension of No. 1 & No. 3 sintering strands and 13 years furnace life. It was 2.76 t/day$\cdot$m3/IV in productivity and 0.15% in silicon level in pig iron. These remarkable records were based on some advanced Kwangyang BF know-how and recent developments like higher facilities reliability, optimum allotment of hot blast and oxygen, high sophisticated burden distribution control and special screening equipment of raw materials.

This study concerns the influence of certain metallurgical factors, like the addition of a mixture of rare earth metals (mischmetal) and of overheating, on the microstructure and the tensile properties of alloy A319-2 (Al-Si-Cu with 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2% iron) The new phase linked with mischmetal has a needle - and/or platelet - shape as the β-iron phase and impedes the flow of the liquid metal during casting, thus creating porosity. The different types of particles present in the microstructure remain after the T6 thermal treatment. In the alloys containing 1.2% iron, the length of the β phase and mischmetal particles is slightly smaller than in the alloys with 0.4% Fe or 0.8% Fe, after the addition of 5% mischmetal and overheating at 950°C. This explains the better tensile elongation of the 1.2%Fe-5% mischmetal alloy cast at 950°C instead of 750°C. UTS and yield strength are decreased by the addition of mischmetal but are slightly improved by overheating. Overheating at 950°C decreases the yield strength only in the 1.2% Fe-0% mischmetal alloy.

The DSR (Dynamic Shape Roll), a powerful flatness actuator developed by VAI Clecim, has been installed and commissioned on the No. 1 tandem cold rolling mill of Baoshan Iron and Steel in 1997 and more than 4 million tons have been rolled with this equipment. This long operation period allows us to quantify the first operational results in terms of performance, capacity and operation of this actuator on a wide range of products. This also allows us to confirm the potential gains induced by this innovative technology with regard to the market changes and requirements.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

The efficiency of automatic flatness control systems in hot rolling mills is based mainly on the capability of the installed instrumentation to provide accurate flatness measurements, on accurate prediction models, and on the selection of an optimum control concept. BFI, together with Thyssen Krupp Stahl, has recently developed a new topometric flatness measurement device (called TopPlan) and advanced flatness control strategies (providing time delay compensation, systematic analysis of shape errors and exact distribution of shape coefficients to be controlled by actuator sets) that offer advantages over conventional techniques and lead to significant improvements in hot rolling processes and strip shape. The present article aims to demonstrate the principles and advantages of these technologies.

The projects of Arcelor innovation R&D aim at developments having a time to market from a few months, for the most advanced, up to the end of the decade, for the most futuristic. They are carried out in partnership with the automotive industry. Ultra-high strength steels are a recent major innovation. They offer an effective answer to the request for improved safety and reduced energy consumption and contribute to sustainable development. The author introduces three major innovative developments: new technologies for high strength steels implementation, new openings for an improved cost/weight saving balance, new surface properties, based on nanotechnology. It is the ambitious claim of Arcelor, now and for the future, to afford steel solutions for all purposes, in particular for the automotive industry. The Arcelor-Nippon Steel collaboration makes it possible to bring an even better answer to the request of customers for further developments.

X-ray diffraction contrast tomography is a non-destructive technique for the 3D characterisation of polycrystalline microstructures containing up to a few 1000 grains. The sample is illuminated with a monochromatic beam of high energy synchrotron radiation. As the sample is rotated, and as grains pass through alignments for Bragg diffraction, diffraction spots are recorded on a 2D detector placed close behind the sample. The diffraction geometry is used to assign spots to the grains from which they arise, and to determine the crystallographic orientations of grains. The spots are used as projections of the grains to reconstruct the grain shapes. The technique has been applied to several materials science investigations in stainless steels, including the 3D characterisation of grain boundary networks, and in-situ studies of intergranular stress corrosion cracking.

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 paper presents a review of the current knowledge on the influence of gaseous atmospheres, and primarily ambient air, on fatigue crack propagation in metallic alloys. Experimental evidence of the effect of exposure to ambient air or any moist environment on fatigue crack propagation in steels is first proposed. The different interacting processes are analyzed so as to clearly uncouple the influence of the various factors on crack growth resistance. Two distinct mechanisms are identified : the adsorption of vapour molecules and hydrogen assisted fracture at crack tip.