ADDITIONS
Materials, typically alloy elements, added to molten steel
to produce the chemical specifications for the desired
steel grade.
ALLOYA substance that has metallic properties and is
comprised of two or more chemical elements of which at
least one is a metal.
ALLOY STEELSteel containing one or more alloying element. Steel is
classified as alloy when the maximum content of alloying
elements exceeds one or more of the following:
manganese 1.65%, silicon 0.60%, copper 0.60%.
ALLOYING
ELEMENTSChemical elements added for improving the properties of
the finished products. Some alloying elements are:
nickel, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, and
silicon.
ANNEALINGA process involving heating and cooling, usually applied
to induce softening of steel. The term also refers to treatments intended to alter mechanical or physical
properties, produce a definite microstructure or remove gasses.
ARGON SHROUDA procedure using argon gas to shield molten steel from
oxygen as it is teemed from the ladle.
ARGON STIRRINGAn inert gas introduced through a nozzle to stir molten
steel to promote chemical and temperature
homogenization and float out inclusions.
BILLET
A semi-finished piece of steel that results from rolling
an ingot or a bloom. It may be square but is never
more than twice as wide as thick. Its cross-sectional
area is usually not more than 36 square inches.
BLOOM
A semi finished piece of steel resulting from the rolling
or forging of an ingot. A bloom is square or not more
than twice as wide as thick and usually not less than
36 square inches in cross-sectional area.
BLOOM SHEAR
A shear used to cut a rolled ingot into shorter bloom
lengths or to cut off the ends of a bloom.
BRINNEL
HARDNESS
A hardness test commonly used for soft steel and metals which measures diameter of an indentation made by a
steel ball under a given load.
CARBIDEA compound of iron (or other element) and carbon in
steel, forming a very hard, nonmetallic substance (Fe3C). Fe3C is also called cementite.
CASTING
Pouring molten metal into a mold, or the metal object
(i.e., ingot) produced by such pouring.
CASTING
POWDER
A powder applied to the inside of a mold before
teeming to prevent the metal from sticking to the mold.
CHARGE
To load a furnace with scrap and flux prior to melting,
or to load a soaking pit with ingots for reheating.
COLD WORKING
Rolling or drawing semi-finished steel products to provide higher physical properties or better surfaces
than can be produced by hot-working.
CONTINUOUS
CASTER
A machine used to continuously produce blooms from molten steel with no interruptions or intermediate
operations.
ELECTRIC ARC
FURNACE (EAF)
A refractory-lined steel vessel used to melt steel. An
electric arc generates the heat.
GRINDING
Method of conditioning steel by removing surface flaws using a power-driven grinding wheel.
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HEAT TREATMENTA combination of heating and cooling operations applied to a metal or alloy to obtain desired microstructure conditions or
properties.
IRON
A pure metal that serves as the basis for steel, cast iron and stainless steel. Iron is relatively weak and soft when
in its pure form.
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KILLED STEELSteel that is deoxidized with a strong deoxidizing agent, such as
silicon or aluminum. Reducing the oxygen content minimizes chemical reaction between carbon and oxygen during
solidification.
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LADLEA vessel for receiving and handling liquid steel. It is
constructed of a refractory-lined steel shell.
MARTENSITERoom temperature structure of steel formed as a result of a
rapid quench from the austenitic condition. Hard, strong, and brittle structure.
MECHANICAL
PROPERTIES
Those properties of a material that reveal the elastic
and inelastic reaction when force is applied or that
improve the relationship between stress and strain.
MICROSTRUCTUREMicroscopic structure of steel. Under a microscope, certain
elements of the solidified metal are visible (crystal structure).
MODULUS OF
ELASTICITY
A measurement of the stress-per-unit strain, an
indication of the resistance of the steel to deformation
within its elastic limit.
QUENCHINGThe process of rapidly cooling the steel from a
temperature above the critical temperature.
TENSILE STRENGTH
A measurement of the maximum load per unit of original area that a steel has prior to fracture.
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