STEEL-MAKING WITH BASIC ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE AND PROBLEM OF FLAKES

Abstract

Various researches and discussions have hitherto been made for the problem of flakes, and also various schemes for the prevention of the generation of flakes have been proposed. It seems, however, that the problem is not yet completely solved. The growth of the flakes is not due to a single cause, but is related to the combined result of many factors. As the causes of the generation of flakes and their properties are different, the prevention should naturally be devised in accordance with this fact, so that the solution becomes very difficult.
In this paper, the author discusses mainly the steel-making process using a basic electric-arc furnace, and considers that the causes of flakes exist generally before the production of ingots Consequently in his view that the flakes are made by melters, the forging and heat treatment are not widely dealt with in this paper.
In considering the relation between each steel-making process and flakes, crucible and acidic openhearth furnaces are most insensitive for the growth of flakes, whilst basic open-hearth and basic electric arc furnaces are the most sensitive.
The problem is, howevere, solved by the lime process for acid open-hearth furnaces, whilst for basic open-hearth furnace, special processes such as the "duplex acidic and basic open-hearth process" are used in Germany and Austria. However, there is no distinct measures for basic electric-arc furnaces either at home or abroad.
The author examined this problem, and explains the steel-making process using a basic elecrtic arc furnace, with which the prevention of flakes was experimented. He hopes that the paper may become a reference to people engaging in the steel-making industry and may invite their discussions.