The effect of superheating and substrate morphology on heat exchange at the melt-solid interface was studied. An experimental device was set up to yield a unidirectional heat flow from the Sn-Pb bath to the lubricated steel substrate and the heat transfer resistance was evaluated from the thickness of the solidified material at a fixed time. A higher solidification efficiency was obtained with moderate superheating, and also with a proper choice of surface topography and lubricant.

The role of the tundish in the continuous casting process has evolved from that of a buffer between the ladle and mold to being a grade separator, an inclusion removal device and a metallurgical reactor. For both grade separation and inclusion removal, the flow patterns inside the tundish play an important role. The separation of non-metallic inclusions at the interface between the steel and the slag in the tundish is to a great extent controlled by interfacial phenomena in the steel-slag-inclusion system. One constant in the world of high-purity, low-residual and clean steels is the continual drive to reduce and control the frequency of the inclusions. For example, there are high-purity, low-residual clean steels such as IF- steel sheets for automobiles which require the absence of oxide inclusions with diameters larger than 100 micrometers. Great efforts have been made to optimize the flow and turbulence in the tundish through weirs, dams or other systems. Furthermore, a new system, the porous annular well block for injecting argon, has been developed to optimize the bubble size and distribution and hence to achieve a high efficiency in trapping inclusions and in decreasing the hydrogen content in steel. Consequently, the steel quality is further improved in the tundish. Tested with success in a seamless steel shop, the new system gives results in agreement with the water models.

The Australian Pilbara blend lump ore, which entered the Chinese market in 2007, is a special blending ore. To master its behavior and effect in a BF adequately, the metallurgical properties and high temperature reactivity of the Pilbara blend lump ore and six other kinds of lump ore were researched. The reasonable proportion and mixing pattern of the Pilbara blend lump ore was studied by carrying out softening and dropping property tests, and this provides technological support for practical production.

This paper describes a model for the simulation of the process of direct reduction of iron ore for steel production. The model is implemented through stand-alone software and the simulation results have been compared with real experimental data. The very good agreement between the actual and simulated data proves that the model, despite its relative simplicity, takes into account all the fundamental phenomena of iron ore reduction.