The direct relationship between the total oxygen content of the steel or the slag composition and the rate of surface defects on the final products has been clearly established by many previous studies. The paper describes the appropriate process parameters to prevent the re-oxidation of the molten steel and clogging of the submerged entry nozzles, two essential factors to meet the product cleanness requirements: quantification of re-oxidation, control of re-oxidation by slags, air or refractories, control of Ar injection, mechanisms and ways to reduce CC nozzle clogging.

The use of chemical energy in the EAF has increased significantly in recent years, both for enhancing productivity and reducing electricity consumption. However, these tools are operated following pre-set patterns, without any feedback information from the process. This leads both to non-optimized operations and to occasional blowback problems, resulting in damages to burners, lances, watercooled panels and refractory lining.
CRM has developed an on-line “distance-to-scrap” measurement technique that can be fitted inside annular burners. This measurement allows monitoring the melting of scrap in front of each burner, and thus detecting blow-back occurrences before any damage is created. This sensor was successfully tested in the Esch-Belval steel plant of ArcelorMittal Profil Luxembourg. Industrial implementation is under way.


The Carinox production facility comprises a 160 ton EAF, a 180 ton converter, a twin 180 ton stand ladle treatment station, a single strand slab caster, auxiliary plants and the dedusting and automation system. This article outlines the principal features of this successful project.

CRM developed a new cost effective procedure to have a more accurate assessment of roll performance related to oxide formation, friction level and wear for hot rolling. The procedure consists of inserting different work roll materials in pilot work rolls to perform specific continuous pilot hot rolling campaigns with a detailed analysis. This gives a direct comparison between the different materials tested in a real rolling environment. Furthermore it reduces the technical risk related to the introduction of new work roll grades and speeds up the roll development.

The automobile industry has been marked for continuous modernization of its projects, in order to meet a high demand of safety, durability, fuel consumption, design and cost. This paper reports the latest developments that have been carried out by ArcelorMittal Brasil for improving the quality of coated and non-coated steel products for automotive use, taking into account an integrated management among Companhia Siderurgica de Tubarão (CST), Vega do Sul and ArcelorMittal Auto.