Results of industrial converter operation have been analyzed with several approaches, based on statistics or on the kinetics of the various reactions. Cogent results have also been obtained through the follow up of gas emissions. The kinetics models that have been developed constitute a significant contribution to the implementation of new strategies for converter operation.

To meet the demand for Interstitial Free and Bake Hardening steel grades for the automotive industry, CST has developed a production process for steels with ultra low carbon (<20 ppm), and low nitrogen (<30 ppm) levels, along with a narrow range of carbon content. The new process also ensures a high degree of cleanliness of the CC slabs.

Hot tearing close to the solidus temperature occurs in continuous casting of steels. Four hot tearing criteria from the literature are reviewed and assessed against laboratory tests. Based on a critical strain criterion, an accumulated strain approach is introduced and critical values are determined by laboratory experiments.

New dynamic features of the descaling process are reported, referring to the continuous water jet formed by the descaling nozzle in particular. A water jet is formed by clusters of droplets moving at high velocity. In the impact area, pressure peaks of several hundred MPa, lasting microseconds per peak are observed: this is described as the “water hammer” effect. This finding modifies most existing concepts of descaling and the impact on current theory is discussed.

Two innovative processes have been developed in order to produce ultra fine grained steel at the hot strip mill. One is based on high speed, large reduction forging, the other on combined rolling/bending strain accumulation. Both processes afford drastic reductions of the strip ferrite grain-size.

Crystallographic textures of hot rolled microalloyed steel strips from the thin slab direct rolling AST process is determined by EBSD. The effect of the thermomechanical treatment on the strip texture is analyzed, pointing out a significant through thickness gradient.

Fatigue crack propagation in a welded joint of a cablecar post has been developed, based on parameters measured on real joints. It makes it possible to optimise the schedule for inspection of the posts.