The Need of Complex Blowing during Oxygen Steelmaking
Iron and steel industry occupy a unique place in the growth and development of competitive global economies, and stainless steel is one kind of important steel materials which has an even more important role in human life because of its highly resistant to mechanical stress, the special texture and applicable in a range of commercial and industrial applications. The stainless steel is produced by oxygen steelmaking and finished product is formed after one or more steps of deoxidation and other treatments. Thus, the application of complex blowing during the oxygen steelmaking process is of great necessity.
First of all, the chemical and physical composition of steel produced by oxygen steelmaking is improved with the help of complex blowing. In the process of steelmaking, blast furnace utilizes oxygen-enriched blast and the oxygen steelmaker focuses on chemical composition of the steel. During the blowing process, chemical composition changes may take place because three chemical agents cooperate together, namely oxygen, nitrogen and carbon, to form a chemical reaction which could increase the quantity of the steels elements. By using complex blowing, the quantity of niobium and molybdenum in the steel can be increased effectively. In this way, the hardness and strength of the steel can be improved.
Second, the properties of steel may be improved by oxygen blowing during the steel process. Along with the chemical composition of the steel being improved, the mechanical properties of the steel, such as tensile strength, yield strength and so on, can be also improved by blowing. When oxygen is injected into the furnace, it can help oxygen atoms to penetrate into the steel, form the microstructure of the steel, and thus improve the mechanical properties of the steel in terms of physical properties, such as strength and toughness, as well as its chemical properties.
Third, the surface properties of stainless steel made by oxygen steelmaking are improved with complex blowing. A complex blowing process can make more layer-structured oxide film with extremely stable properties being formed on the surface of the steel. This kind of oxide film has higher corrosion resistance, better mechanical properties, oil-transform ability and heat-transform property. In addition, through the combination of blowing and slag, a homogenous and fine texture on steel surface can be obtained by oxygen steelmaking.
In conclusion, the application of complex blowing during oxygen steelmaking process is of great necessity. It helps to improve the chemical composition, physical properties and surface properties of the steel, and thus can help with the production of stainless steel with higher performance.
