Abstract
Progress of steelmaking technology in Japan over the last 100 years is overviewed covering hot metal pretreatment, primary steelmaking with open hearth furnaces, converters and electric arc furnaces, secondary refining of steel with degassers and ladle furnaces, and ingot- and continuous-casting.
Key issues that contributed considerably to the progress of the unit processes are highlighted with scientific, technological and engineering breakthroughs involved. Also, systematization of the unit processes is depicted for optimizing full cost, productivity and quality of steel products to meet the constraints on the resources and socioeconomic demands of the steel market at times.
Possible future development of steel technology is briefly commented on the basis of the above observation.
