Martenovskoye and Nemortenovskoe steel production

A person uses a wide variety of materials to meet his needs. And to their number, undoubtedly, belong to metals. After all, now it is almost impossible to find such a field of human activity, in which they were absent. And metals are divided into several main groups: colored, noble and black.

The group of ferrous metals includes chrome, manganese and, of course, iron with its numerous alloys. And it is iron alloys that are the basis of modern technology. And although new ceramic and polymer materials are appearing, they will not soon be able to replace old good steel and cast iron.

Steel is called an alloy of iron with carbon, and the carbon content in this alloy should not exceed 2.14%. If its content is higher than this figure, then this alloy is already cast iron. Steel is obtained from cast iron or from scrap metal in various steelmaking furnaces at metallurgical plants. And one of the oldest and outdated processes is the production of steel in open-hearth furnaces. Its principle is that pig iron and scrap metal are processed in a reflecting furnace. To melt solid charge materials and heat the steel to the required temperature, and also to compensate for significant heat losses, additional heat is required. It is produced by burning fuel in a jet of very hot air.

In order for the combustion process to produce the maximum effect and to use less energy for the production of steel, it is necessary that this fuel burn in the working space. For this, air is fed into the furnace in more than necessary quantities. This accordingly creates an excess of oxygen in its atmosphere. Also in this atmosphere is oxygen, which was formed as a result of the decomposition of water and carbon dioxide at high temperatures. Thus, in the working space of the furnace an excess of oxygen is formed, which promotes the oxidation of iron and other elements of the charge. As a result of this oxidation, many oxides of various metals are formed. They together with impurities and particles of the collapsing lining form a slag. This slag is lighter than steel, and it covers it during melting. Therefore, the production of steel by the open-hearth method is gradually replaced by new technologies.

In particular, this applies to those brands of steels that contain many components. Their percentage should be kept very strictly. To these steels is also the well-known stainless steel. And the production of stainless steel is a rather difficult task, which it is very difficult to solve with the open-hearth method. At the same time, there is very little carbon in the stainless steel, and this complicates the task even more. And for melting stainless steel and other similar brands electric arc furnaces are often used. They can have different capacities and capacities. The source of heat in such a furnace is an electric arc. It occurs between the electrodes and the charge or liquid metal, after they are supplied with a current of the necessary force.

This arc is a stream of electrons, metal vapors, slag and ionized gases. Its temperature exceeds the mark of 3000 degrees. It can arise from both DC and AC applications. But in electric arc furnaces only alternating current is used. At first, while the metal in the furnace did not warm up well, the arc in it with the change of polarity on the electrodes goes out. But then, when the burden completely melts and the bath is covered with an even layer of slag, this arc stabilizes and begins to burn exactly. Further, the production of steel in such an oven proceeds without complications.

For induction of metals, induction furnaces are also used. The principle of their action is this: an alternating magnetic field excites an electric current in the metal, while the heat that is used to remelt this metal is released. And the source of the magnetic field in such a furnace is the inductor. The production of steel in an induction furnace has several advantages over an electric arc furnace. First, it has the ability to more accurately adjust the melting temperature, and it gives a higher efficiency. And secondly, the absence of electric arcs and electrodes in such a furnace makes it possible to receive low-carbon steels in it. Melting in an induction furnace also results in a low combustion of alloying elements, which is very important for the smelting of complex alloy steels.