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.

CRM has developed a dynamic model of the EAF. Combined with a complete acquisition of process parameters and of events occurring during a heat, the model continuously assesses the mass and thermal balances; it simulates the scrap movement inside the furnace during melting down as well as the foaming slag. It is in daily use at Carsid-Marcinelle since two years. Its second application is at the furnace of ProfilArbed at Esch-Belval. The model allows to determine the optimum time for the charging of the second scrap basket, to control the heating during the flat bath phase and to predict the end point of the melting. The model is also an efficient tool for the optimization of the electric furnace.

The damage behaviour of materials depends strongly on the residual stresses generated inside the coatings realized under high energy beams. The purpose of the present work is to demonstrate the effect of intrinsic and geometrical parameters of the coated system on the stress level at the coating surface. The results of the elaborated phenomenological model show that the residual stress level depends, in particular, on the substrate and coating modulus ratio. It is then possible, based on the judicious choice of this ratio, to optimize the stress level.

In continuous hot dip galvanizing, steel strip is immersed in a molten zinc bath containing small amounts of aluminium. A model has been developed describing the kinetics of the galvanizing reactions that occur at the steel/liquid zinc interface (dissolution of iron, heterogeneous nucleation and growth of the intermetallic phase Fe2Al5Znx). The model has been validated using experimental data available in the literature for a three-second galvanizing treatment.

Stainless steels have sustained a continuous growth for these 50 years, based on their outstanding corrosion resistance properties. Their corrosion performance has been ever improved for a large range of environments. New grades with higher static or dynamic mechanical properties afford high quality parts at lower cost with modern fabrication technology. In the future, stainless steel should find further application in the transportation and in the water distribution industries. This growth might be impeded by the EU classification of alloys with over 1% nickel. Attention that is focused nowadays on nickel, may later on be drawn upon all metallic alloys, whose distinctive features should rather be acknowledged and which should benefit from the support of a common strategy to be agreed upon by all stakeholders.

The pencil edging diamond wheels used for lateral automotive glass grinding are composed of a mixture of metal powders (bond) and dispersed super-abrasive diamond grits (having a 100 μm average size). The metallic bond consists of a ductile alloy (sintered Ag+Cu+Ti powder mixture) and a hard skeleton (W and cast iron). The principal characteristics expected are a good wear resistance as well as a good cutting quality. In order to reproduce the industrial thermal cycle of the sintering manufacturing process in a traditional furnace, this cycle was simulated by dilatometric tests on green pellets of simplified metal powder mixtures. The aim was to determine the sintering behaviour of each component of the metallic bond.

This paper describes the equipments and systems, designed and supplied by VOEST-ALPINE Industrieanlagenbau (VAI), for the extension of the stainless steel production plant of Ugine & ALZ at Genk. The main results obtained during the first year of full operation of this modernized plant are presented.

The rate of air oxidation towards 1,000°C of the Si3N4-bonded silicon carbide refractory is low. It is found that the porous nitride-bonding phase oxidizes mainly and that the SiC oxidation is negligible. The decrease of specific surface area, due to the growing of a dense silica layer, induces much slower kinetics.

p-methoxy benzylidene malonitrile (MN1) and p-hydroxy benzylidene malonitrile (MN2) were synthesized and tested as inhibitors for the corrosion of mild steel in molar HCl. We have found that both of them inhibit the corrosion. The maximum inhibition efficiency reached 100% for MN1 at 10-4 M and for MN2 at 10-3 M. Current-voltage curves indicated that malonitriles act as mixed type inhibitors. Their adsorption on the steel surface obeys to the Langmuir isotherm model. The effect of temperature on the corrosion behaviour of steel indicated that the inhibition efficiency of the two inhibitors decreases slightly with the rise of temperature in the range 298-338 K. The apparent activation energies for steel dissolution are greater than in the absence of inhibitors, which is consistent with a chimisorption mechanism.

This Bessemer lecture is a unique occasion for the author to look at some of the issues to which he has been close professionally, with a perspective spanning over three centuries, something that one does not so often have the leisure to do in the Steel Industry. The author speaks first briefly about Sir Henry Bessemer and the dynamic 19th century of which he was such an active player. Then the author skips over 100 years to 1970 and recollects some of the endeavours and achievements of the Steel Industry of the late 20th century, which he witnessed at first hand. There were deep changes of course, but also intriguing continuity with Bessemer's time. Finally, as Technological Forecasting or rather Prospective, the author projects what kind of path the Steel Industry might tread in the future and why. This is done from the viewpoint of an engineer and based on the idea that the core of the Steel Technology is the archetype of a Cumulative Technology rather than a mature, saturated and somewhat passé activity.

Today, after a fifteen years period of progressive evolution, the design of new products from the metallurgy of special steels and alloys area has become fundamentally based on the intensive use of modelling devices covering both microstructure design and process description. These tools, today well implemented inside industry companies, combined with conventional experimental investigation lead to faster innovation results, steadier solutions, and contribute to increase performance and competitiveness.

On the basis of thermodynamic properties and phase diagram data, the (In,Sn) binary system was thermodynamically modelled, using the “Thermo-Calc” program of calculation. The various phases in this system were modelled with the Redlich-Kister expression for the Gibbs energies. An optimized set of thermodynamic parameters was obtained. The thermodynamic properties of the (In,Sn) binary system and comparisons between calculation and experimental data are presented.


The main objective of this paper is to present a model based on advanced artificial intelligence techniques to determine the preset values of the roll forces to be applied on the temper mill of a galvanizing line. This model will preset both the roll force needed for the required material and will also preset the necessary tension. The roughness is also foreseen by applying this method.

A project manager who designs a steel construction for a long duration takes into account, in his choice between steel and concrete particularly, the durability and maintenance programme of each component. The metal + paint route is thus very often the most competitive thanks to the painting industry. This industry has been reorganized with objectives of quality and high durability, by the creation of ACQPA which manages the performance certificate of paint systems, painting operators, inspectors. OHGPI, by examining the H form summarizing all the parameters of each project, approves the guarantees of performance and durability. A profession perfectly controlled during the whole life time of the steel construction. Look at the Eiffel Tower!

Increased landfill costs for steel mill waste residues, stricter environmental regulations and decreasing public acceptance of waste dumping is driving the iron and steel industry to apply environmentally balanced solutions on site. The rotary hearth furnace based technologies fulfill the requirements of zero-waste steelmaking. Basically they allow the treatment of all accumulated steel mill waste under the avoidance of negative side effects on the steel quality and plant productivity with minimized overall steel plant emissions. This paper reflects possible waste recycling principles: Rotary hearth furnace (RHF), RedSmelt and cold briquetting technology. In addition, SMS Demag is currently commissioning a pilot facility applying a combination of a rotary hearth furnace with a coal-oxygen based smelter (RedSmelt NST) at Lucchini in Piombino/Italy. If results meet our expectations, this process too could become an attractive solution for steel mill waste recycling.


The storage buildings have generally a very high fire load. This leads to impressive fires, which make however few victims. It is difficult to extinguish these fires after the flash over. Not withstanding the designed fire resistance of the structure, structural failure may be expected at some stage of the event. To guarantee the safety of the firemen, the precise type of failure is essential. Collapse must occur in a ductile mode in the compartment under fire. This collapse should not trigger a further collapse of next elements of the structure that are submitted to lower temperatures. Design of firewalls must take into account the interaction of the wall with the structure, that will deflect. Properly designed standard steel structures perform well under fire and make it possible to meet these safety requirements, that have been included in the new French regulation on fire safety of storage buildings (August 2002).

Four different techniques have been used to study the thermal cycling effects on equiatomic Ti-Ni: Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Electrical Resistance measurements (ER), Internal Friction measurements (IF) and Vickers microhardness tests performed at room temperature. The measurements have been performed on well annealed samples, samples cold worked at room temperature and cold worked samples annealed at moderate temperatures.

The annual production of Arcelor is 44 millions tons of steel. Amongst these 44 millions of tons, 8 are used in the construction market of the 15 earlier Members of the European Union, for industrial buildings, multi-storey buildings and bridges. In the European Union, Steel has a major share of industrial buildings in all Member States while for multi-storey buildings, the national market shares of steel are not uniform. The share of steel for the multi-storey buildings market is over 50% in the United Kingdom, Sweden or Norway and below 30% in the rest of Europe. Thus, there is a large potential for steel. This market could be gained through improved material properties or new products in order to answer the new trends of the market towards long span, service integration and flexibility. The paper addresses four topics pertaining to construction with steel: high strength steel grades, Arcelor cellular beams, floor systems, fire safety.

Hot rolling and solution annealing of duplex stainless steels involve high temperature reheating steps in oxidizing atmospheres. The thin scale that forms on the surface is not easily removed because it contains oxide nodules that are deeply embedded in the underlying alloy. These nodules appear when the protective Cr2O3 layer becomes locally inefficient. At the same place, oxidation of iron and manganese is possible and less chromium is needed to develop the scale. Depletion of chromium in the steel beneath the nodule is then less important and pickling the plates becomes more difficult.