2022 Volume 62 Issue 5 Pages 799
Material properties are strongly dependent on the chemical composition, texture and structure, and the processing conditions in the manufacture of various steel products are optimized using these guideposts. Therefore, in order to develop new materials and new processes, it is essential to develop analytical/observation methods for material characterization and optimize steel manufacturing processes. In recent years, progress in fundamental research and the development of analytical/observation techniques based on new methods have been remarkable. It is extremely significant in disseminating the high potential of the steel industry to publish a special issue of cutting-edge research on analytical/observation techniques, that give information related to steel-related materials and their manufacturing processes. The analytical and observation techniques that fall under this scope are as follows: elemental analysis, surface analysis, texture/structure analysis, observation methods of precipitates and inclusions, online/on-site analysis, and so on. In addition, these achievements are highly versatile and can be applied not only to steel materials but also to other materials. This special issue serves to find out the potential directions for “Frontier in characterization of materials and processes for steel manufacturing”.
Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to all the authors for their contributions, and to the entire editorial staff who supported the publication of this special issue. I am also indebted to Prof. Shigeru Suzuki of Tohoku University and Prof. Nobuo Uehara of Utsunomiya University for their cooperation in publishing this special issue.
