Effects of Melting/Casting and Thermal Treatment Surrounding Gas Phase Composition on the Properties of a Low-Alloyed Steel

Abstract

This study aims to provide insights into the experimental conditions used during the melting/casting process and subsequent thermal treatments of low-alloy steels, particularly regarding recycled scrap metals. As sustainable practices in metallurgy gain importance, optimizing scrap metal recycling is crucial for producing steel grades with desired chemical compositions, microstructures, and physical properties. Understanding these conditions is vital for enhancing the efficiency and quality of steel production from recycled materials. This study emphasizes the critical role of specific experimental conditions in the steelmaking process, especially with recycled scrap metals. It closely examines the atmosphere during melting/casting to identify key parameters that must be rigorously controlled in lab-scale steel production using a vacuum induction furnace. The findings indicate that both the chemical composition and recyclability of low-alloyed steels are significantly influenced by the surrounding atmosphere during melting and casting. Inert environments, such as vacuum or argon, are shown to be ideal for steelmaking with induction technology, particularly when recycling scrap metals. Additionally, this study highlights the importance of precise heat treatments, including homogenization and normalization, by controlling both thermal conditions and the atmosphere to produce high-quality steel from recycled scraps.