RECENT TRENDS IN STEEL MAKING AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS ON MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES

A very general overview of the technical trends in the steelmaking industry is given. Based on a very crude classification of the products, the advantages and disadvantages of the different production routes are discussed. This includes the liquid steel production either from scrap or from iron ore. Then the production routes using the new developments on thin slab or strip casting are compared to these using the more conventional continuous casting. Finally, the development of the on line continuous heat treatments and of the coating processes is briefly discussed. Based on these considerations, a description of the different kinds of steelmaking plants that we may have in the future, is attempted.