The ULCOS blast furnace process aims at reducing the CO2 emission of the blast furnace by 50% in two steps:
Decrease of carbon consumption by recycling most of the top gas after CO2 removal, which requires operating the blast furnace with pure oxygen;
Underground storage of CO2. 
The first stage is essential to demonstrate the feasibility of this new process. It has been tested over a 6 week campaign at the LKAB experimental BF in Luleå. The facility was adapted specifically for the trials (including the erection of a VPSA plant). Different operating conditions were investigated. In conclusion, and taking into account underground storage, the CO2 emission at the blast furnace was reduced by up to 76%. For the steelmaking plant, this should result in a net CO2-savings of 65% at the level of the hot rolled coil.

The role of slag in ladle metallurgy and tundish is discussed starting from thermodynamic considerations of equilibrium/non-equilibrium states between slag and steel. Some interesting steel grades with different deoxidation philosophy are chosen as examples. Physical aspects concerning the role of stirring, slag properties e.g. viscosity and interfacial tension are examined as well. The title question is discussed and evaluated based on theoretical considerations and comparison with modelling experiences and industrial data.

The efficiency of dephosphorisation is governed by the thermodynamic behaviour of phosphorus and oxygen in molten metal, and P2O5 and FeO in slag. The equilibrium distribution of phosphorus and oxygen, for a wide range of chemical compositions simulating the evolution of slag composition during a typical BOF blow, has been experimentally determined. A mathematical model for estimation of the activity coefficients, as a function of the chemical composition, was also attempted.

The paper aims at giving an overview of galvanizing reaction of steel sheets, highlighting how the solid Fe - liquid Zn system tends to keep the liquid Zn phase at thermodynamic equilibrium. Reactions occurring with Al free, intermediate Al bearing (typical of GA production), and higher Al bearing (typical for GI production) Zn bath are detailed.

Strip surface state before zinc bath immersion is linked to temperature homogeneity and gas atmosphere composition in each furnace section. Many different gas metal reactions occur in the furnace that may improve the strip heating rate or introduce surface defects, depending on their localization. Gas flow models of the preheating-heating sections with high temperature variations have been developed. They point out temperature gradients and the competition between natural convection and forced convection. A model for gas exchanges between all furnace sections has been built and validated by gas tracing trials on industrial lines. The effect of line process parameters such as line speed, strip format and gas injection condition in all furnaces sections is reported.

GI coatings are covered by a very thin aluminum layer that precipitates after wiping. Anisotropic growing of zinc crystals during solidification induces a strong basal texture in GI coatings. Skin-pass induced changes in GI coating surface chemistry, crystallography and reactivity have been assessed. Local coating analyses have been performed (XPS, TOF-SIMS) in order to describe local effects of roughness indentation during skin-pass on coating characteristics. A laboratory bi-crushing device supported by XRD and EBSD has been used to analyze the aluminum oxide behaviour during deformation and ageing. Reactivity of such surfaces has been tested using fatty acids.