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Special Steel Production Processes: Secondary Metallurgy
Producing high-quality special steel demands a series of sophisticated and controlled steps, with the secondary metallurgy phases being particularly crucial. These processes are vital for refining the chemical composition and purity of the molten steel, ensuring the final material meets the stringent technical specifications required.
Special Steel Production Processes: Refining in the VID Plant
The molten steel, once in the ladle, first undergoes refining in the Vacuum Induction Degassing (VID) plant. This vacuum-equipped facility is designed to degas the liquid bath, removing impurities and undesirable elements present in gaseous form. To speed up the degassing process, an inert gas, typically Argon, is blown in from the bottom of the ladle.
Maintaining Temperature During the Process
During the degassing process, it’s crucial that the metal remains in a liquid state. Therefore, it’s continuously kept above typical melting temperatures to ensure the refining process occurs correctly.
Refining in VOD for Carbon Reduction
Following the initial refining in the VID plant, the ladle is then transferred to a second vacuum refining facility called Vacuum Oxygen Decarburization (VOD). The primary goal of this process is to reduce and precisely control the carbon content in the steel by consuming it through the blowing of oxygen. Throughout this step, it is also essential to keep the steel in its liquid state.
Special Steel Production Processes – Secondary Metallurgy: Conclusion.
Secondary metallurgy is an essential phase in the production of high-quality special steel as it allows for a material of high purity and optimized chemical composition. At Deutsche Edelstahlwerke (DEW) steelworks, which we represent, these processes are carried out with the utmost precision to guarantee a final product of excellence. Follow our blog for further insights into advanced special steel production techniques.
