Steel Refining

Refining
Consists of purifying an impure material.
Whatever the process of obtaining steel is, it always
brings the presence of impurities, gases, scale and
segregation which makes it necessary to implement
further refining processes, commonly known as
"refining" of steel.
Manufactured steel contains impurities of elements such
as sulfur or silicon and a too high percentage of carbon.
All these substances make the product properties
undesirable.

The final material is usually identical chemically to the

original one, only it is purer.

Steel refining with converter method

Pig iron takes place in a large container coated with refractory
material (heat resistant material) and perforated at the bottom.
The cast is added to the converter at a temperature of 1300C
and stays at a horizontal position to prevent the liquid from
reaching holes.
The converter straightens and begins blowing air after all the
cast is added and then the temperature of 1600C is achieved.
The converter method is very fast and lasts about 20 minutes.

Steel refining with converter method

One disadvantage of this method is that it doesnt allow
precise control of the product.
The three types of processes that are done with this
method are molten iron, molten iron-scrap and molten
iron-ore.

Cupola Furnace
The cupola furnace is a cylindrical with a
height of 10 meters, covered with refractory
brick, in which alternating layers of pig iron
and coking coal are introduced to exceed the
height of the nozzles.
Whe is incandescent the flux is added and
air is injected through the nozzles. The
molten metal falls into a crucible and when
full the taphole is opened and the metal is
collected, and poured into molds.

Refining steel Methods

Basic Oxygen Steelmaking
(BOS)
Electric Furnaces

(BOS)

Furnace

Scrap metal is deposited

A water- cooled oxygen

lance is lowered into the
furnace.

High pure O2 is blown

through the lance at twice
the speed of sound

oxygen combines with

carbon and other
impurites.

Oxidation creates heat

Heat = transformation

Refining by injection of
gases

Tilited and steel is tapped

into ladle

Oxidized carbon can be

collected to reuse as fuel.

Furnace is turned upside

down and slag is tipped for
recycling.

Electric Furnace
Useful for producing steel that
have certain demanding
specifications, such as stainless
steel.
Refining process takes place in
an airtight chamber , where
temperature and other
conditions are controlled
rigorously with automatic
instruments.

Can hold 80 - 200 tons

Cost is much higher for steel produced
in electric furnaces, but of better
quality.

Does nt contaminate
as much.
Contributes to 40% of
steel production
worldwide